Route 434 Greenway construction continues: What to know about Vestal Ave. detour
Drivers in Binghamton and Vestal may want to plan for extra travel time starting next week, especially regular users of Vestal Avenue.
The construction of the new pedestrian/bicycle path will alter traffic beginning June 6 near the city line as part of the nearly $24 million Route 434 Greenway project.
As a result, motorists will be unable to access eastbound Vestal Avenue from the Vestal Parkway near the border with the City of Binghamton, the New York State Department of Transportation said.
The DOT said drivers should follow the posted detour utilizing Pennsylvania Avenue for access to Vestal Avenue.
The traffic restriction is expected to be in place for about three weeks, contingent on weather and the pace of construction.
“If we get a perfect day every day, it should be shorter than three weeks,” said Scott Cook, DOT Region 9 public information specialist.
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Route 434 Greenway project includes 2.5 mile path
The Route 434 Greenway project includes a 2.5-mile bicycle and pedestrian path along the south side of state Route 434 from Pennsylvania Avenue in Binghamton to Murray Hill Road in Vestal, adjacent to Binghamton University.
The new path will feature modern lighting and landscaping and will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It will be separated from the roadway by guide rails and concrete barriers.
The project will also upgrade intersections along Route 434 with new signals and crosswalks to enhance safety for pedestrians and motorists.
“This new shared-use path will bring people together, offer expanded recreational opportunities and make it easier for people to take advantage of walking or riding a bicycle to work or school," said DOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez.
The path will connect with an existing greenway at Pennsylvania Avenue to give walkers, joggers and cyclists easy access to downtown Binghamton, the city’s South Side neighborhoods, Binghamton University’s main campus and dozens of businesses, stores, restaurants and recreational facilities.
The DOT announced the Route 434 Greenway project in February 2021, estimating a $22.1 million cost. Changes to the project have added an additional $1.8 million to the project, bringing the total bill to $23.9 million, Cook said.
The project is scheduled to be completed in summer 2023, Cook said.
Cook said if the schedule stays on track, the trail section from Murray Hill Road to Vestal Avenue could be open for use before the end of 2022.
The DOT said the completed Route 434 Greenway will serve as a critical link in the regional Two Rivers Greenway system, a network of shared-use pathways spanning seven municipalities in Broome and Tioga counties.
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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Binghamton 434 Greenway path to create Vestal Avenue detour
