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Catskill has been awarded over $900,000 in state grant funds to replace a damaged culvert on the Pennsylvania Avenue bridge in Palenville. The culvert was washed away in April after a heavy rainstorm that lasted several days. A temporary bridge was installed in October to span the gap created by the Kaaterskill Creek flowing beneath it.
The grant, amounting to $907,340, was awarded through the Consolidated Funding Application under the Resilient Watersheds Grant Program. Town Supervisor Patrick McCulloch expressed excitement over the funding, stating it would allow the town to proceed with the long-awaited culvert replacement. The project, expected to cost around $1 million, will require the town to match 10% of the grant amount.
According to the Daily Gazette, the area has faced frequent flooding issues, with the culvert being repeatedly damaged by heavy water flow from the Kaaterskill Creek. The grant is designed to support flood mitigation projects that municipalities cannot undertake independently.
The actual grant amount may vary slightly based on the final project costs. The town received permits from the state Department of Environmental Conservation in July to clear debris from the creek, which was completed before the temporary bridge installation.