The City of Troy has begun a construction project designed to improve Fulton Street and city streets near it.
Costing the city approximately $375,000 out of Distressed Cities Aid, the work will be completed by Hudson River Construction Company under the supervision of the City Bureau of Engineering, and will take from eight to 10 weeks to finish, according to the Troy Mayor’s Office.
"The Fulton Street improvements are another tangible sign of progress for the citizens of Troy," said Troy Mayor Mark Pattison. "Our intention is to improve a vital entrance into the historic Central Business District, create a safer environment for pedestrians and motorists, as well as to encourage the use of mass transit. This is all part of making Troy a more livable city—one that attracts residents, tourists, and growing businesses."
Although the construction project could possibly cause significant traffic problems, the City Hall Engineering Office believes that its effect on traffic flow will be minimal. Dave Bailey, senior civil engineer, said that the project seeks "to keep streets open as much as possible" and there "should be little or no disruptions in traffic flow" throughout the construction’s project’s duration.
During the initial phase of the project, Front Street will be realigned to improve access to Riverfront Park. The Front Street traffic flow will be altered from the current two-way flow to one-way flow south, and the north curb on Fulton Street from Third Street to Fourth Street will be removed and reset to permit the creation of a new parking lane while still maintaining two traffic lanes.
CDTA plans to construct a new lighted bus shelter and information kiosk on Third Street near the current end of Front Street.
The shelter, a replacement for the existing bus stop at the corner of Third Street and Broadway Avenue, will allow parking access to be restored to the west side of Third Street from Fulton Street to Broadway.
Additionally, a second bus shelter will be built along the east side of Fourth Street, just north of Fulton Street. In order to accommodate this shelter, the existing curb will be relocated, and a new sidewalk will be laid down.
The construction process will also include the milling and repaving of Third Street and Fourth Street and the installation of bulb-outs, street-printed crosswalks, new pavement markings, and historic-style street lighting.
The construction project is the latest in a series of internal city improvement projects that include previous renovations of Broadway and Congress Street.
