Expect 12 More Months of Bridge Work

SCARSDALE, N.Y.  – Scarsdale businesses and residents affected by the downtown bridge construction work won’t be getting any relief for a while. Work on the Popham Road bridge, originally scheduled to be completed by November, will continue for another year, according to a Scarsdale Village report.

“These delays are due to certain unknown field conditions resulting in additional work and general coordination issues between all of the agencies involved in the project,” according to the report. “The Village continues to work diligently to successfully coordinate the work amongst the various interests in order to mitigate public inconvenience and complete the project as quickly as possible.”

According to people in the area, those inconveniences include businesses being hurt.

“Walk-in traffic off the street is not what is used to be,” said German Chino, who works at The Scarsdale Flower Shop at 34 East Parkway, about a block away from the work.

His co-worker, Jodi Orlando, agreed.

“It’s really affected business,” she said, noting that a recent change in the traffic pattern, especially banning left turns onto East Parkway by Popham Road traffic coming over the bridge, has led to confusion among some drivers and the issuance of more tickets.

“They’re handing out a lot of tickets,” Chino said. “They’re always stopping people out there.”

The bridge carries vehicle and foot traffic along Popham Road over the railroad tracks. Access from East Parkway to the sidewalk along the north side of Popham has been shut down. Anyone wanting to patronize the CVS store or Little Thai Kitchen on Popham from the East Parkway area must cross Popham to use the sidewalk, walk down the hill, cross back toward the train station, then walk up the hill.

“It’s not safe to walk around there,” said Bobby Varley, a taxi driver awaiting fares at the train station Monday. “After so long, you wonder when it’s going to get done.”

Phone calls and e-mails to contractor ELQ and Assistant Village Administrator Steven Pappalardo requesting further clarification as to what the circumstances were that caused the delays were not returned.

 

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