Frustration. Impatience. Anger.
All are common feelings of motorists when confronted with road construction and that dreaded sign: "Road closed."
For Trixie Smith, 31, of Scipio, that sign has come to pose quite a nuisance the past few months.
Black Street, where Smith has lived for three years, has been closed for the last six weeks because of construction, Smith said. The street runs north-south and parallels Route 34.
"Two times I've had a caseworker come to get the kids for an appointment, and both times I've had to cancel because of the road construction," said Smith, who lives with her fiance and four children.
Smith, who does not drive, said a caseworker tried to go down several other streets but that they, too, were blocked off because of construction.
That isn't so, said Scipio Highway Superintendent Ron Walter. Walter said that he spoke with Smith Wednesday and explained what was going on.
"She makes it sound like there's no way out and that's not true," Walter said, adding that Mosher, Cory and Manchester roads offer alternative routes.
Cayuga County Highway Superintendent George Wethey said that workers on Black Street, a county road, are replacing cross culverts to prepare the road for paving next year.
"The cross culverts are quite old and in deteriorating shape," Wethey said. "If the cross culverts were to fail, basically we'd have a small section of the road that would cave in."
Wethey said that the construction crews do not work every day and that the road is open whenever work is not being done.
Like Walter, he maintains there are ways to get around the road closure.
But Smith's frustrations are likely to last. Wethey estimated that the construction will continue into the fall.
"I know I'm not the only one that has (this) complaint," Smith said.
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
For Trixie Smith, 31, of Scipio, that sign has come to pose quite a nuisance the past few months.
Black Street, where Smith has lived for three years, has been closed for the last six weeks because of construction, Smith said. The street runs north-south and parallels Route 34.
"Two times I've had a caseworker come to get the kids for an appointment, and both times I've had to cancel because of the road construction," said Smith, who lives with her fiance and four children.
Smith, who does not drive, said a caseworker tried to go down several other streets but that they, too, were blocked off because of construction.
That isn't so, said Scipio Highway Superintendent Ron Walter. Walter said that he spoke with Smith Wednesday and explained what was going on.
"She makes it sound like there's no way out and that's not true," Walter said, adding that Mosher, Cory and Manchester roads offer alternative routes.
Cayuga County Highway Superintendent George Wethey said that workers on Black Street, a county road, are replacing cross culverts to prepare the road for paving next year.
"The cross culverts are quite old and in deteriorating shape," Wethey said. "If the cross culverts were to fail, basically we'd have a small section of the road that would cave in."
Wethey said that the construction crews do not work every day and that the road is open whenever work is not being done.
Like Walter, he maintains there are ways to get around the road closure.
But Smith's frustrations are likely to last. Wethey estimated that the construction will continue into the fall.
"I know I'm not the only one that has (this) complaint," Smith said.
Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net
