Construction Starts on Tonawanda Creek Road

October 21, 2008

Contractor willing to move forward despite Comptroller's refusal to pay

Erie County Executive Chris Collins and Erie County Legislator Mike Ranzenhofer announced today that work has started on the long delayed reconstruction of Tonawanda Creek Road in Clarence. Accadia Construction was recently awarded the construction contract and has started preparation work before soil mixing begins this coming winter. The owner of Accadia is moving forward with the work despite County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz's refusal to pay vendors for completed work or honor payment for signed contracts.

"Two months ago, I stood here with Legislator Ranzenhofer and promised to finally start reconstruction on Tonawanda Creek Road," said County Executive Collins. "Today we are honoring that pledge. I want to personally thank Accadia Construction for understanding the necessity of this project and beginning work despite the Comptroller's unwillingness to pay county contractors. The Comptroller has the money to pay these vendors and he should do the right thing and stop penalizing hardworking men and women and their families."

Tonawanda Creek Road was heavily damaged due to severe weather and has been closed to travel for years. The cost of this reconstruction totals more than $3 million.

"I am happy to finally see the day when this project is breaking ground," said Legislator Mike Ranzenhofer. "The residents who live along Tonawanda Creek Road have been steadfast in their support of this project and it's gratifying to see that Clarence will have their road restored. The bureaucratic red tape that we encountered along the way was frustrating at times, but hard work and perseverance prevailed and we are moving forward today."

Work will continue through the winter because a critical component of this reconstruction effort requires the soil to be frozen. This project has been approved for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) funding. Under the funding agreement, Erie County is due to be reimbursed for 75% of the design and construction costs by FEMA and 12.5% by SEMO.