Nearly One Mile of New Sidewalks Coming to Saddle River Road in Chestnut Ridge

Yisroel R.

A major pedestrian safety project along Saddle River Road in Chestnut Ridge is expected to begin by the end of July, bringing nearly one mile of new sidewalks to a heavily traveled section of the county road.

The project is being funded through a $1.7 million Rockland County grant secured by County Legislator Joel Friedman, who represents Chestnut Ridge as part of District 15. Construction is expected to take approximately three months and be completed in the fall.

The new curbs and sidewalks will be installed on the Chestnut Ridge side of Saddle River Road, beginning near Terrace Court and continuing north to the New York State Thruway. The route passes Terrace Court, Millrose Lane, Margetts Road, Keith Drive, Andrew Drive and Quackenbush Lane.

Saddle River Road, designated County Road 73, borders Chestnut Ridge and the Village of Airmont. The new sidewalk will give pedestrians a dedicated place to walk along a stretch where residents are often forced to walk in or alongside the roadway.

Village Engineer Martin Spence of Spence Engineering prepared the design and engineering plans for the project. Rockland County has reimbursed the village for the engineering expenses and issued the final permit needed for construction to move forward.

The final plans call for new curbing and sidewalks along the corridor, together with related grading and drainage improvements where needed.

Rockland County Legislator Joel Friedman said the project is centered on protecting pedestrians and making the road safer for everyone

"Saddle River Road carries a tremendous amount of foot traffic, and for too long people have had no choice but to walk in the road," Friedman said. "I'm proud to have secured the full $1.7 million to build these sidewalks and make this stretch safer for everyone who uses it. I was involved every step of the way to make sure the county and the village worked closely together on this. It is a new countywide initiative, and the county plans to bring it to other areas as well, including the Village of Airmont, which is also in my district. I want to thank the Village of Chestnut Ridge for being a true partner every step of the way, and I'm also grateful to the Town of Ramapo, to Supervisor Michael Specht, and to his Chief of Staff Mona Montal, who was instrumental in helping get this off the ground. I also want to thank County Executive Ed Day and Stephen Powers, the county's Intergovernmental Relations and Public Policy Director, for their support. This is what happens when the county, the town, and the village work together for the people we all serve."

Mayor Rosario Presti, Jr. credited Friedman for delivering the county funding while recognizing the engineering work that brought the project to the construction stage.

"This is a real step forward for our residents, and it happened because of Legislator Joel Friedman's work at the county," Presti said. "A project like this only works when it's designed right, and I want to thank our village engineer, Martin Spence of Spence Engineering, for the careful work that got these plans approved and ready to build. This is going to make Saddle River Road safer for everyone who uses it."

Deputy Mayor Chaim Rose said the project represents the type of practical improvement that residents will experience every day.

"This is a real win for our residents, and the credit goes to Legislator Joel Friedman," Rose said. "He allocated the full $1.7 million for new sidewalks on Saddle River Road for the residents of the Village of Chestnut Ridge. We're looking forward to seeing the work get underway, and it reflects the kind of everyday improvement we're always working toward across the village, streets that are safer and easier to walk."

Village Trustee Shmuli Fromovitz said the sidewalks will benefit families, pedestrians and motorists, particularly after dark.

"This is for every family and every pedestrian who uses this road, anyone out for a walk or pushing a stroller, and it makes the road safer for drivers too, especially at night," Fromovitz said. "It fits a broader effort, since over the past few years the village has installed a substantial number of street lights throughout Chestnut Ridge. But make no mistake, this project is happening for one reason, and that is Legislator Joel Friedman. Joel secured the full $1.7 million and made sure every dollar was earmarked for Saddle River Road and our residents. His leadership delivered this, and the entire village owes him our deepest thanks."

Motorists and residents should expect construction activity along Saddle River Road once work begins. If the anticipated schedule remains on track, the new sidewalks will be completed during the fall.