By Carol P. Bartold

Sep. 9, 2015:  The Parkway Road bridge, closed for over two years for repairs, re-opened to traffic on Wednesday, September 2, at approximately 11:00 am.

Police Chief Christopher Satriale has stated that the Bronxville Police Department will take an aggressive stance in enforcing vehicle and traffic law violations on Parkway Road and surrounding streets in light of the street's re-opening as a thoroughfare. He urges parents and neighbors to assist the department in discouraging neighborhood children from bicycling, skateboarding, or skating in the street they grew accustomed to using for play during the road's closure.

Jim Palmer, village administrator, noted that police officers will also monitor traffic conditions, traffic volume, and speed to determine the need for additional signage and the merits of reconfiguring Parkway Road as a one-way street. The village will review existing signage for effectiveness.

Several Parkway Road residents appeared before the board of trustees in the months prior to the bridge's re-opening to urge the village to consider implementing traffic-calming measures, including speed humps and reconfiguration of the street as one way.

Palmer stated that the repairs to the bridge, which included sealing the deck over the center pier to slow or limit future deterioration from salt and weather, will prolong the bridge's life. "I am also reviewing the best management practices to ensure that we are doing all we can to further minimize future repairs," he said.

The project suffered a delay and resulted in the long-term closure of Parkway Road as a through street because of a dispute over which municipality should bear responsibility to repair the bridge. A subsequent intermunicipal agreement between the Village of Bronxville, Town of Eastchester, and City of Yonkers, along with assistance from the State and Municipal Facilities Program, provided funding for the $348,970 contract awarded for repairs.

"The reality is that there is very limited federal and state funding for infrastructure projects like this," Palmer said. "The two percent tax cap further challenges how local governments prioritize projects."

The agreement represented a unique partnership, according to Palmer. He further stated that the village plans to partner with the Town of Eastchester and City of Yonkers to address long-term maintenance issues on the bridge.

"The bridge is a great example of the financial and personal collaboration between Bronxville, Eastchester, and Yonkers," said Mayor Mary Marvin. "I thank Supervisor Colavita and Mayor Spano for being part of a great team for all of our citizens."

Pictured here:  Parkway Road, once again open to traffic. 

Photo by A. Warner