New York - DOT To Install Route 17 Barriers Ahead of Schedule

New York - The state Department of Transportation is responding to a rash of crossover head-on crashes on Route 17 with promises to install $10 million worth of barriers by the spring - two years ahead of schedule.

The DOT, under pressure from the public after six people have been killed in crossover head-on crashes in the past 15 months, said that the first stretch of Route 17 to get the barriers will be from the road's interchange with I-84 to the New York State Thruway in Harriman.
The DOT said it is also considering reducing the speed limit to 55 if engineering data supports the change. The speed limit on Route 17 was raised to 65 from 55 in May 2004, and they are also working with the state police on enhanced enforcement in the Route 17 corridor. "A critical component of our efforts must be a fundamental change in driver behavior," said DOT Regional Director Robert Dennison. "Many of these devastating accidents have occurred due to drivers traveling at high rates of speed. It is incumbent upon drivers to pay attention to posted speed limits and other safety measures."

Some 13 people have died in Orange and Sullivan counties since 1994 in crashes involving cars crossing the grassy median on Route 17 and colliding head-on into cars.