ONEONTA — Construction has begun on a $7 million state project designed to improve traffic flow, pedestrian safety and transit access along one of Otsego County’s busiest commercial corridors.
The New York State Department of Transportation announced work is underway on the Southside Oneonta Safety and Mobility Improvement Project, which targets the intersection of state Routes 23 and 28 near SUNY Oneonta, Hartwick College and the city’s major shopping district.
The project follows a state safety analysis that found the corridor experienced vehicle crashes at rates higher than the statewide average.
Planned improvements include longer turning lanes, new sidewalks, an additional crosswalk, ADA-accessible curb ramps, upgraded traffic signals, two new Oneonta Public Transit bus stops and a full resurfacing of the roadway. New traffic signals will be installed at the McDonald’s and Aldi entrances, while existing signals at the Southside Mall and Hannaford intersections will be modernized.
State Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said the project is intended to improve safety and mobility for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users while strengthening connections between neighborhoods, businesses and nearby colleges.
Construction is expected to continue through the fall of 2027. Motorists should anticipate temporary traffic pattern changes and delays during the project.
The improvements build on recent transportation investments in the area, including the Route 23 and Main Street roundabout and the City of Oneonta’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects. The work also will connect with a city sidewalk project along James F. Lettis Highway, creating a more continuous pedestrian network on the Southside.
