O’Mara welcomes opening of long-awaited Horseheads Connector Road

Horseheads, N.Y., August 24—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R-C, Big Flats) today welcomed this week’s opening of the long-awaited Horseheads Connector Road in Chemung County.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new road, which has been in the works since state and federal funding was included in the 2016-2017 New York State budget, was held on Thursday at the new Connector Road Bridge over Newtown Creek between Old Ithaca Road and NY-13.   

O’Mara praised the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Region 6 of the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) for fully funding the $24.5 million project, and the Chemung County Department of Public Works for managing the work to complete this vital new roadway ahead of schedule and under budget. He was joined at Thursday’s ribbon cutting by state Assemblymen Christopher Friend and Phil Palmesano, DOT Region 6 Director Brian Kelly, and other local and state representatives.

O’Mara said, “The Horseheads Connector Road was a project that had been envisioned for many years before we were finally able to secure the necessary state and federal funding totaling $24.5 million in 2016. Since then, the county Department of Public Works and the regional state Department of Transportation have done outstanding work to complete the new roadway under budget and ahead of schedule. It’s been an incredible all-around effort and will make an enormous difference for local residents and motorists.  It will serve as a long-awaited gateway to additional economic opportunities at the former ‘Holding Point,’ now primarily owned and operated by Southern Tier Logistics, for regional businesses and communities that will only enhance and strengthen the local and regional economies.”  

The $24.5 million project included construction of a new roadway and bridge, two modern roundabouts, improvements to CR68 Old Ithaca Road, a new railroad grade crossing and paving on CR21 Wygant Road, and improvements to the Horseheads Levee.  The Connector Road will provide direct access from I-86 via State Route 13 to the industrial park formerly known as the Holding Point, thereby helping to remove truck traffic from local roads and providing for the efficient movement of goods.