RENSSELAER COUNTY ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF “HISTORIC AND TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT” INFRASTRUCTURE ON US 9 IN SCHODACK, COUNTY EXECUTIVE STEVE MCLAUGHLIN ANNOUNCES
PROJECT WILL EXTEND WATER SERVICE FOR SEVERAL MILES TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT AND MAINTAIN HEALTH, SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE
Completion of a major infrastructure project to extend water service in Rensselaer County on US 9 in Schodack was announced by County Executive Steve McLaughlin with local officials and legislators at an event Monday near the completed water line.
The new water system was inaugurated at one of the businesses to benefit from the extension of water service, Samson’s Bar and Restaurant, on US 9.
The water service will help encourage and support economic development and investment on the US 9 corridor, which connects with roads to New York City, Boston and Montreal, among others. US 9 is already home to the Amazon fulfillment center and a host of other businesses and ventures.
“This is historic and a transformational project for Rensselaer County and Schodack,” said McLaughlin.
“Completion of this project gives the county a greater platform to attract new development and investment to an area of the county with an excellent workforce, proximity to major metropolitan areas and transportation routes and room to grow. We expect great things to happen on this section of US 9,” added McLaughlin.
The infrastructure project involves extending water service on a more than five mile stretch of US 9 in Schodack. The start point for the project is near the split of US 9 and US 20, extending to the Columbia County border.
Work started in November 2023, with the county utilizing funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The project was done in partnership with the Town of Schodack, with the town and county contributing resources to the project. Under an agreement, the county provided virtually all funding to the town, with the town taking ownership and responsibility for the water line.
Along with McLaughlin, Schodack officials including Supervisor Charles Peter, members of the County Legislature, state elected officials and others participated in the event.
“This is a massive investment in Schodack and we thank the county for their partnership and their faith in our town. The new water line will improvement our economic development efforts here but also help to give residents clean drinking water and provide adequate supplies for our fire companies,” said Peter.
Engineering for the project was done by the LaBerge Group of Colonie. General contracting work was done by William Keller & Sons of Schodack.
The five miles of water service extended on US 9 will be joined by sewer infrastructure in the coming months, based on plans formulated by the county and town. The county also has established a sewer line in Schodack on an approximately one-mile stretch of Maple Hill Road.