City officials have announced they are planning to explore a redesign of Route 9W in Kingston, New York, including reducing the highway from four to two lanes and adding additional intersections.

The City of Kingston, the only city located in Ulster County, NY has long been one of the "anchor" cities in the Hudson Valley. With a population of 20,000+, Kingston is home to many residents and over the years those lifelong residents have experienced numerous changes.

Route 9W Kingston, New York
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Urban Renewal in Kingston, New York

Back in the late 60s and early 70s the "Urban Renewal period" began, a time when parts of the country used a federally funded program to demolish large areas of private and public property to modernize infrastructure. Around that time City of Kingston officials gave the go-ahead to install the four-lane highway known as Route 9W. Since it opened many in the area have wondered if a highway like that is what the area needs, with some calling it an "unnecessary barrier to connectivity".

Route 9W Kingston, New York
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Kingston, NY Wins Grant, Wants to Redesign Route 9W

According to a press release from the City of Kingston, it appears they are getting ready to "conduct a feasibility study for reducing the 9-W highway from four to two lanes". The study, announced by Kingston Mayor Steve Noble will be funded by a $240,000 planning and design grant from the Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot program. It will also look at removing a partial clover interchange, adding Complete Streets features, adding additional intersections, and more according to Noble.

Why Route 9W Needs to be Redesigned in Kingston, NY

Mayor Noble explained why the city believes it is long overdue saying,

"During the unfortunate Urban Renewal period, the large four-lane 9-W highway was built, bisecting our community. We believe the highway was overbuilt for the City’s traffic needs and creates an unnecessary barrier to connectivity, non-vehicular transportation, economic development, and social equity. We are interested in seeing what alternatives we might find to reducing the footprint of this route, and bringing now disparate parts of our community back together."

 

Noble also thanked Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Pat Ryan for their support during the "very competitive grant process".

SEE ALSO: 7-Year-Old Child Hit by Car in Kingston

Reconnecting Communities Program

The Reconnecting Communities program awards are designed to re-establish routes between communities in urban, rural, and tribal areas that were cut off by transportation infrastructure decades ago. This left entire neighborhoods without easy access to opportunities, employment, and key resources like schools, medical offices, and places of worship.

Kingston didn't give a date when the study would start yet, but when they do we will update this article.

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