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According to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, the $26.3 million project begins Monday, Oct. 21, and will occur in Orange County along a 4.9-mile stretch of Route 9W atop Storm King Mountain in Cornwall and Highlands.
The scenic highway between Newburgh and Bear Mountain on the western side of the Hudson River serves as an essential access road for the US Military Academy at West Point and many other popular attractions in the Hudson Valley region.
“New Yorkers need only look at the significant damage done to our roads and bridges by severe storms in recent years to know that climate change is already having an impact, and we need to be ready,” Hochul said.
Hochul said a key focus of the project will be installing 6,700 linear feet of perforated pipe, known as an underdrain, designed to collect and redirect subsurface water before it saturates the road surface.
Additionally, 12,300 feet of asphalt gutter will be constructed, and existing drainage structures will be repaired to better channel surface water runoff and prevent ponding.
Deteriorating sections of the 88-year-old stone wall located along the roadway's eastern, or cliff side, will be rebuilt and strengthened using a concrete barrier placed on a structurally integrated concrete slab.
Where possible, salvaged stones from the existing wall will be repurposed as stone veneer, seamlessly blending the aesthetics and keeping a similar appearance. Where necessary, additional portions of the existing wall will be repaired and repointed.
Hochul said the roadway will be resurfaced using warm-mix asphalt—which utilizes less energy to produce than traditional asphalt—and high-visibility pavement markings and reflectors on barriers will be installed to enhance safety, especially during nighttime driving conditions.
Additionally, about 10,000 linear feet of concrete median barrier will be replaced and equipped with new impact attenuators, substantially mitigating crash risks.
During construction, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction to allow for construction activities, which will be complete in Spring 2026.
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