Schumer: Tonawanda Creek Road Has Been Closed For Months, After Completely Collapsing Due To Erosion & Lack of Fed Funding To Maintain Roads; Closure Causing Major Inconvenience For Local Residents And Forcing Cars & First Responders To Divert To Different Roads; Senator Calls For Immediate Passage Of Federal Highway Bill To Help Pay For Local Needs, Like Urgent Erie County Road Projects

Press Release

Standing at Tonawanda Creek Road in Clarence, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today launched an effort to urge Congress to pass a pass a long-term infrastructure bill that increases federal funding for roads and bridges, which is set to expire at the end of the month. Schumer said Tonawanda Creek Road is a prime example of why it is so important to pass a federal bill before it expires. Tonawanda Creek Road, a county-owned road in Clarence, remains closed after beginning to collapse over a year ago, due to erosion of the creek bed. Schumer said that Tonawanda Creek Road continued to deteriorate to the point where it is now closed off entirely, resulting in major inconveniences to residents and businesses in the local area.

What's more, Schumer said, is community members worry this could severely impede emergency response, if first responders cannot get through the road closure. Schumer said while Erie County is tirelessly working on maintaining all county roads, just like every other county in New York State, they are simply short on road funds, due to a lack of federal funding. Therefore, Schumer said that an immediate long-term, robust infrastructure bill federal highway funding bill is vital to fixing Tonawanda Creek Road, and other roads, bridges and crumbling infrastructure across New York State.

"Right now, this situation is a lose-lose. Local governments should not have to pick and choose between projects, or try to foot the bill themselves without any guarantee they will be reimbursed," said Schumer.

Schumer continued, "Tonawanda Creek Road in the Town of Clarence is not only a problem for businesses and an inconvenience for residents, but it is also a safety hazard for emergency crews that need to travel out of the way when it could mean the difference between life and death. That is why I am pushing my colleagues in Congress to pass a bill to pass a long-term infrastructure bill that increases federal funding for roads and bridges"-- which is too important to New York's economy, and to our safety, to become insolvent. Congress should step up and reach a bi-partisan agreement to continue to provide the funding New York needs to carry out local road improvement projects like in the Town of Clarence on Tonawanda Creek Road."

Tonawanda Creek Road is a county-owned road in Clarence that began to collapse about a year ago due to erosion of the creek bed. The road has continued to deteriorate to the point where it is now closed off entirely. That is why Schumer is pushing for a funding bill to be considered in Congress. Schumer believes the funding bill is crucial to providing the federal dollars necessary to make road improvements, bridge repairs and kick start other critical infrastructure projects across the country and New York State, like Tonawanda Creek Road.

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