State begins extensive upgrade work on Route 9W in Orange County

James Skoufis

Originally published in Times Union on .
U.S. Route 9W from Cornwall as it winds through the Hudson Highlands. New York state will undertake a $26.3 million resiliency and safety project to upgrade the route, which is prone to flooding.

A multimillion-dollar project to enhance safety and improve resiliency along a flood-prone stretch of U.S. Route 9W in Orange County has begun, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office announced Monday.

The project will upgrade drainage systems, fortify stone walls, replace concrete barriers and resurface the road along a 4.9-mile stretch between the towns of Cornwall and Highlands across Storm King Mountain. Route 9W serves as an important access road for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and many other popular attractions in the Hudson Valley, and was one of the roads that sustained heavy damage in last summer’s floods in the region.

 

State Route 218, which parallels and at portions is concurrent with U.S. Route 9W in the area, reopened last month following extensive reconstruction led by the state Department of Transportation.

“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 in a news release. “This resiliency project along U.S. Route 9W in Orange County exemplifies our ‘build-it-back-better’ mantra and will mitigate persistent drainage issues on this important Orange County roadway, ensuring its long-term ability to withstand the growing challenges posed by mother nature.”

 

During construction, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2026 and has an estimated price tag of $26.3 million. It will be paid for by a mix of public funds, including $12.5 million in federal funds procured by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan.

 

To mitigate flooding, workers will install 6,700 feet of perforated pipe, known as an underdrain, to collect and redirect subsurface water before it saturates the road surface, according to the release. They will also construct 12,300 feet of asphalt gutter and repair existing drainage structures to better channel surface water runoff and prevent ponds from forming during rainstorms.

 

The project calls for structural upgrades as well. Deteriorating sections of an 88-year-old stone wall located along the eastern side of the roadway 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 in an attempt to blend the aesthetics and keep a similar appearance.

 

Finally, a range of safety improvements will be completed. Workers will resurface the road and install high-visibility pavement markings and reflectors on barriers to enhance safety, especially during nighttime driving conditions. Additionally, about 10,000 feet of concrete median barrier will be replaced and equipped with new impact attenuators, substantially mitigating crash risks. Elected officials praised the project in statements.

 

“Having advocated for years for improvements to 9W, I am gratified to see that work has begun on a stretch of this well-traveled highway. This section gets pummeled by weather year after year, and the upgrade to drainage systems and resurfacing of the road will have a measurable improvement for Orange County drivers,” state Sen. James Skoufis said.

 

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