Road Between Wallkill Shopping Centers Opens to Traffic (+video)

By Holly Kellum
September 25, 2015 Last Updated: September 25, 2015
(L-R) Karl Brabenec, New York State Assemblyman; John Ward, former Walkill Supervisor; Antonio Rotundo, Wallkill Councilman, Lou Ingrassia, Jr., Wallkill Commissioner of Public Works, and Paul LoGallo, Project Engineer for the D.O.T. on Sept. 24, 2015 during a ribbon cutting ceremony for a tunnel under Route 17 in Wallkill that connects three prominent shopping malls. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times)

WALLKILL—A much anticipated road that connects busy shopping centers in the town of Wallkill officially opened on Thursday.

Officials from the state and town attended a ribbon cutting for the road, which travels under Route 17 and connects the shopping centers of Orange Plaza, the Galleria at Crystal Run mall, and Dunnings Farm.

“It’s about time,” said Keith Markey, a 48-year resident of Mechanicstown who works in the area. “It’s easier for me to cut [through] instead of going all the way around.”

The road offers a shortcut between the shopping centers that prevents traffic from having to use Route 211.

Now Schutt Road extends from the intersection with Dunning Road (County Route 92) to North Galleria Drive. It will not only make it easier for people to shop in the area, officials said, but alleviate congestion on Route 211.

As part of the project, Schutt Road was repaved, new street and traffic lights were installed, a sidewalk on one side put in, and new lines painted on the road.

Wallkill Commissioner of Public Works, Lou Ingrassia, says the addition to the road satisfies a safety concern as well.

‘This gives you a separate means of ingress [and] egress,” he said in reference to an emergency situation.

The project started in 2002 when John Ward was the town supervisor and he made sure to be there for its opening.

“It was something I dreamed about when I was running for office in 2001,” he said. “This is a super thing.”

He said the $5.4 million project was at a roadblock due to funding, and it wasn’t till they got funding through the federal government that they were able to make it happen.

As the first cars passed through the tunnel, people honked their horns and cheered out their windows. “So excited,” yelled one. “Great!” shouted another, “I love you!”

On Oct. 16, the town will have it’s own ceremony where it name the road “Wallkill Winning Way.”

To contact this reporter, email holly.kellum@epochtimes.com.