It was a beautiful day for a groundbreaking and the host of political dignitaries, business people and union members on hand posited that a long sought upgrading of Route 9W at Newburgh”™s northern boundary would help spur further growth in the city that is steadily restoring past luster.?“This is wonderful,” said Frederick J. Watson, president of Watson Services, who was on hand at the well-attended event at  North Junior High School on Robinson Avenue/ Route 9W. The road will be rebuilt as part of an $11.4 million project largely paid for with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. ?New water and sewer lines will also be installed, although that aspect of the project  is not included in the $11 million price tag for the reconstruction from the Newburgh city line at North Plank Road south to First Street.  The 1.2-mile corridor serves as a gateway to the city from the north, with a heavily trafficked  exit off nearby Interstate 84 funneling traffic onto the route.
“This brings a lot of people into the city and when it is finished it will get them downtown as opposed to circumventing the city,” said Watson, noting that many drivers exit Robinson Avenue at North Street and use Water Street and River Road to access the waterfront. The repairs “will help us out a lot,” he said.?“This is major,” said Newburgh Mayor Nick Valentine. “In the end this will  be a beautiful road that will be the gateway to Newburgh. It”™s going to make some very positive changes.” ?“This is another example of how the Recovery Act is continuing to create jobs and benefit generations to come by improving local infrastructure,” said U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey.  “Anyone who lives in Newburgh knows that the reconstruction of Robinson Avenue has been sorely needed for several years.” ?“You need a new gateway and that is what we are going to deliver,” state DOT acting Commissioner Stanley Gee said. ?Hinchey and Gee emphasized that the work will put a local contractor who hires local union members in charge of the reconstruction. “This will keep jobs right here in Newburgh,” Gee said. The project will create about 50 construction jobs.?Argenio Brothers of New Windsor, which submitted the winning bid, will be updating and expanding the work they did 11 years ago. ?Valentine noted that back then Genaro Argenio, owner of Argenio Brothers, laid down what was supposed to be a temporary overlay of blacktop on Robinson Avenue. “He told me that would buy us a couple of years,” Valentine said.
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The cost of the project, not including sewer and water improvements, is projected to be $11.4 million, of which $8.58 million will be reimbursed to Newburgh through ARRA.  The city will also receive more than $745,000 in federal Transportation Improvement Program funds and nearly $140,000 in matching New York State Transportation funding.  The final cost to the city of Newburgh will be just under $2 million.
