Gouverneur appoints group to help plan Route 11 project

GOUVERNEUR — The village Board of Trustees has appointed a citizens committee to help it consider a state Department of Transportation reconstruction plan for a 1.3-mile stretch of Route 11 through the village.

The committee consists of the village board and John T. Pistolesi, Kenneth Nicholas, R. Nelson Lawrence, Patti Farley-Spilman and Robert A. Porter. Mayor Dorothy L. Vorce also is asking Garth E. Monica to serve, but he has been out of town, so his appointment is tentative.

The road project, scheduled to begin in 2011, could cost up to $12 million.

The preliminary design includes plans for a turning lane from Grove Street to the Kinney Drugs warehouse and addresses pavement deficiencies, drainage, safety and handicapped accessibility. It also will replace sidewalks. The work would begin from the bridge over the Oswegatchie River and head north.

"People are just asking about it," Mrs. Vorce said.

The work also could include about $2 million in water and sewer improvements if the village opts to pay for them.

The committee will review DOT's preliminary design plans, talk to DOT about replacement of streetlights and consider trees that might replace the locusts that will be removed from the west side of Main Street as part of the construction.

After DOT receives comments on its draft plan, it will schedule public meetings to

go over the project, DOT spokesman Michael R. Flick said.