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Erwin Roundabouts & Scudder Bridge
Responding to concerns about the potential for increased traffic, NYSDOT and Steuben County modified two intersections in the town of Erwin and are building a new bridge over the Cohocton River to accomodate for additional traffic.
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Erwin, located 5 minutes from downtown Corning, is one of this area's fastest
growing areas. Corning Incorporated has a lot to do with the development of the
area. And in spite of the layoffs that the company has been conducting over the
past couple of years, retailers are finding a hotbed of opportunity in the area.
K-Mart has had a store in that area since the mid 1990's (the same building also housed
the former Nichols and Pharmhouse chains), Wal-Mart opened a superstore in
September 2001, P&C relocated from their Painted Post store into a superstore
next to K-Mart in July 2002, and this winter, Home Depot is expected open a store
this coming winter.
In addition, the increased population in the area has forced the Corning-Painted
Post School District to build a new high school, which will be located off NY 417
south of Gang Mills.
State and town officials, concerned about the imminent increases in population
and traffic in the area, decided to take early action. In 2001 and 2002, two intersections
along Robert Dann Dr. were modified from standard 4-way intersections into
roundabouts (miniature traffic circles). In addition, the state and county have
been building a new bridge over the Cohocton River linking Lynn Morse Dr. and
Canada Rd. with NY 415 in Painted Post. At present, there is only one bridge
linking Erwin and Gang Mills with Painted Post and Corning...US 15. The
bridge's opening, expected to happen this fall, will come at a good time as
reconstruction of the I-86/US 15 interchange in Painted Post is slated to
begin in 2003.
The speed limit approaching the roundabouts is 30 MPH (General speed limit on Robert Dann is 40 MPH), but the roundabouts themselves have an advisory speed of 20 MPH. |
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Here are some pictures of the new roundabouts and new bridge. More pictures will be added soon.
Robert Dann Dr. Roundabouts
This is the first roundabout you will pass as you drive north on Robert Dann Dr., Located at the intersection with Science Center Dr., this roundabout was built in 2001. Notice the use of a "control" road or destination beneath the name of the road. For some reason, Lynn Morse Dr. is not mentioned on this sign, yet NY 415 is. (Photo Taken 08/18/02)
| One of the unique blade signs found at the roundabouts. Makes you think that you're driving in Europe. (Photo Taken 08/18/02) |
Approaching the Robert Dann-Science Center roundabout southbound on Robert Dann. (Photo Taken 08/18/02)
Entering the Robert Dann-Science Center roundabout southbound. (Photo Taken 08/18/02)
| Warning sign that you'll find on each leg of the roundabout. Nothing unusual except that the use of symbols for "Yield Ahead" and "Stop Ahead" are not common in New York State (The signage in the area is NYSDOT-style). (Photo Taken 08/18/02) |
Lynn Morse Dr. Extension Bridge
Looking north on Lynn Morse Dr. from the Aurene roundabout. Lynn Morse Dr. is being realigned to meet up with the new bridge spanning the Cohocton River (Left side of photo). Lynn Morse's former alignment took the road straight ahead, ending at a "T" intersection with Canada Rd. at the bottom of the hill. (Photo Taken 08/18/02)
| Looking south on the old Lynn Morse Dr. The Aurene roundabout is the top of the horizon, and Lynn Morse's new alignment goes off toward the right side of the photo. (Photo Taken 08/18/02) |
Looking at the bridge from the former intersection of Canada Rd. and Lynn Morse Dr. Before the bridge was built, Canada Rd. dead ended at a private residence in a wooded area. (Photo Taken 08/18/02)
| Closeup of the new bridge looking south. There will also be an at-grade railroad crossing just before the bridge. You probably cannot see it right away, but there is a railroad line that runs parallel to the river. The stop signs note the location of the crossing. The building you see in the distance is Corning Inc.'s Photonics Plant. (Photo Taken 08/18/02) |
Looking south on NY 415. Lynn Morse Dr. will meet NY 415 where the campers are on the right side of the road. The I-86 interchange (Exit 43), which you can see in the distance, is about a 1/2 mile from where Lynn Morse Dr. will come out. (Photo Taken 08/18/02)
This photo appeared in the Corning Leader on September 20, 2002. It shows the progress of the new bridge. In the background, you can see that NYSDOT has installed the gates and lights for the railroad crossing between the bridge and NY 415. (Courtesy Corning Leader, 09/20/02)