Parkway Road Bridge Contract Awarded; Residents Propose Reopening Street as One-Way Thoroughfare
By Carol P. Bartold
May 13, 2015: With hopes that the second round of bids for the repair of the Parkway Road bridge proved worth the effort, the Bronxville Board of Trustees, at its May 11 meeting, approved a resolution to award the contract to The Arben Group LLC, the low bidder among four companies who submitted bids.
The board accepted the base bid of $348,970 upon the recommendation of engineering consultant WSP SELLS, which vetted the qualifications and checked the references of The Arben Group LLC. Village Administrator Jim Palmer stated that, in light of the high cost estimates received and rejected in the first round of bids, the village asked WSP SELLS to clarify the scope of the work before putting the job back out to bid.
Palmer stated that the village attorney has reviewed the bid bond, which guarantees that the bidder has the capability and resources to implement and complete the job as outlined in the contract. He indicated that he would notify The Arben Group immediately so that all parties can execute the contract this week and assemble to begin actual work. Palmer estimates that, once repair work begins, it should take approximately two months to complete.
"I think every trustee is thrilled to finally get this on our agenda," said Mayor Mary Marvin. "We had to execute a process, frankly, to ensure the village's position was best served going forward." She added that village officials understand people's frustration with the delays in the process and appreciate everyone's patience.
Parkway Road residents Loraine Izzo and Bindu Nair, representing the Parkway Road neighborhood, asked the board to consider reopening Parkway Road as a one-way street when the bridge repair is completed. To date they have the support of 24 neighbors, both homeowners and renters, who are concerned about safety issues after an almost two-year street closure.
Their initial suggestion is to reopen Parkway Road to one-way northbound traffic to provide drivers coming from Yonkers access to the parkways and to allow a through route to the train station and NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital.
"We have endured flooding. We have endured trucks that have to go around Bronxville and make deliveries," Izzo said. "We don’t think this is a lot to ask for."
Izzo and Nair told the board that, before the bridge was closed, residents endured taxis driving 40 to 50 miles per hour on Parkway Road to get to the train station during morning and evening rush hours. "I wouldn't even cross the street to walk my dog for fear of getting hit by a car," she said. She also noted that neighborhood children who ride bicycles in the street are also at risk.
Trustee Anne W. Poorman suggested that the Parkway Road neighbors contact Bronxville Police Chief Christopher Satriale to discuss their proposal.
Mayor Marvin stated that she would review the issue with Chief Satriale and respond to the Parkway Road residents.
The Bronxville Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, June 8, at 8:00 pm in the trustees room at Bronxville Village Hall.
Pictured here: The Parkway Road bridge.
Photo by N. Bower
Government & History Directory
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
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Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours
Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
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Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400
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