Senator Cooney Calls on NYSDOT to Expedite Repairs of West Henrietta Road

(ROCHESTER, NY) - After hearing concerns from community members and officials from the Town of Henrietta about the condition of West Henrietta Road, Senator Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester) is calling on the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to prioritize planned repairs and push up the start of construction to 2025.

“West Henrietta Road is one of the main thoroughfares in our community, relied on every day by drivers and businesses alike,” said Senator Cooney. “Speeding up the timeline for repairs isn’t just about convenience, it’s about keeping drivers and their cars safe, and providing the kind of infrastructure Henrietta deserves.”

Steve Schultz, Supervisor of the Town of Henrietta said, “Residents continually complain to the Town about the poor road conditions of both East and West Henrietta Roads. I have received a dozen letters about damage their vehicle sustained and/or the need for both of these roads to be repaired. Repairs on East Henrietta Road have finally started, but the NYSDOT informed us there were no immediate plans for repairs on West Henrietta Road. Residents were happy to hear that Senator Cooney was taking up the fight to get those repairs expedited.”

The Senator explained that the planned improvements are currently not slated to start until 2026. Community members have reached out to both the Senator and the Town of Henrietta about the current state of the road, with multiple constituents reporting damage to their cars due to the number of potholes.  

A copy of Senator Cooney’s letter to NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez can be found below: 

Dear Commissioner Dominguez:  

I’m reaching out on behalf of concerns raised by constituents and town government officials in my district regarding the condition of West Henrietta Road on NY 15. There are project plans in place with the DOT for improvements, repaving NY 15 from Methodist Hill to Jefferson Road, but this currently is not slated to occur until 2026. 

This is a main road connecting businesses and communities and is one of the most heavily utilized roads in the Town of Henrietta. The road is disintegrating in areas with large potholes that are increasingly requiring temporary patches, which unfortunately only help for a short period of time. There are heavily heaved seams causing issues for vehicles on the road and serious disrepair. The Town Supervisor is aware of at least three incidents where vehicles had extensive damage due to poor road conditions, including a driver who lost their entire front suspension and axle due to a massive hole in the pavement.

In light of these concerns, I welcome consideration to move this project up to 2025 if at all possible. I appreciate your commitment to safe, effective roads for NYS residents and look forward to your response. 

Sincerely,

Jeremy A. Cooney

Chairman, Transportation Committee

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