Western Highway Closed For Flood Control Project

WEST NYACK, NY — Western Highway is closed between Green Road and Pineview Road for the next six months while a long-awaited construction project is underway.

SEE: Flood Control Project Gets Underway In West Nyack

The detour went into effect Tuesday:

• Southbound: Doscher Avenue to Route 59 to Route 303
• Northbound: Leber Road to Route 303

The Klein Avenue Levee Improvement Project is designed to alleviate the flooding that has plagued the area for more than 30 years as continuous increases in rainfall and storm severity have increased the flood elevation of the Hackensack River.

The existing Klein Avenue levee, built to deal with then-normal intermittent flooding, is now inadequate.

"The peace of mind that is going to come every time we have a nor'easter you can't put a price on that and I am grateful to Supervisor Hoehmann and the Town and all for making this project happen," Klein Avenue Resident Jane Stormes said in March at a project groundbreaking ceremony.

The replacement of the Western Highway bridge, to provide more capacity for water flow, is expected to take six months.

The total project is expected to take 12 months to complete.

"We must take bold action to address the climate crisis, which poses a grave threat to all of us," Rep. Mondaire Jones said at the ceremony. "I'll keep fighting to ensure we do, and I'm thrilled that the improved Klein Avenue Levee will provide protection and peace of mind to my constituents in Clarkstown and beyond."

The total cost is $6.3 million, funded by FEMA ($4,798,713), Rockland County ($200,000) and Town of Clarkstown ($1,325,000).

"Collaboration between all levels of government is critical as we continue to work on necessary infrastructure upgrades like the Levee Improvement here in West Nyack," said Rockland County Executive Ed Day at the ceremony.