Photo: Jacob Wackerhausen / iStock / Getty Images
The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) is organizing a public meeting to discuss the replacement of the Route 23A bridge over Kaaterskill Creek in Catskill. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, at Catskill High School from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. This meeting, initially planned for December, was postponed due to weather conditions.
The current bridge, a masonry arch structure built in the 1800s and widened in 1927, will be replaced with a more resilient steel and concrete bridge. The new design aims to enhance safety and mobility for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. It will feature a 105-foot span, scour-resistant foundations, and uniform 11-foot travel lanes with two six-foot-wide shoulders. The project also includes reconstructing small sections of pavement at the bridge approaches on State Route 23A.
Construction is expected to be completed by 2027 and will require a full closure of the project site. Traffic will be detoured via State Routes 32, 23, and 9W. According to Scott Cook, a DOT public information specialist, the new bridge will be more accessible and resilient to extreme weather events.
Catskill Town Supervisor Patrick McCulloch emphasized the importance of public participation in the meeting, noting concerns about how the project might affect emergency services. "We want to get as many people to this as possible," McCulloch said.
Community members are encouraged to attend the meeting to provide input on the project and discuss potential impacts, including traffic detours and emergency response routes. For further information or to submit written comments, contact NYSDOT Project Manager Timothy Hughes at 50 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12232, or email timothy.hughes@dot.ny.gov. Comments are requested by April 7, 2026.