MAYVILLE - Construction cones are popping-up across Chautauqua County as the Department of Public Facilities (DPF) has begun to work on a long list of projects destined to improve the County's infrastructure.

The divisions of Transportation and Engineering at the DPF plans, designs or oversees the work on these projects. Major capital projects are typically funded through local, state or federal financing programs, but this year, Federal Aid is paving the way to additional projects in the county.

"Continued investment in our infrastructure will not only have an immediate economic payback during these challenging times, but it will also ensure the future economic competiveness of our County," said Chautauqua County Executive Gregory Edwards.

From French Creek to Silver Creek, from Ripley to Carroll, bridges and culverts are being replaced, and roads are being maintained or upgraded.

Chautauqua County's DPF maintains over 550 miles of roads, 315 bridges and over 250 culverts. The area's limited construction season necessitates aggressive scheduling with timed projects reviews and approvals, and Edwards said the DPF does their best to balance highway needs with the availability of funds. 

Increasing shared services has been an important factor in maintaining cost, and continuing to do will result in substantial savings, especially in the surface treatment and pavement stripping program.

In 2009, town and county employees will jointly surface treat approximately 180 miles. Chautauqua and Cattaraugus County personnel will work together to stripe approximately 1000 miles of road.

County crews will pave approximately 35 miles of roads, work on numerous drainage improvements, reshape road shoulders and apply blacktop patching. Ten bridges and culverts will be replaced, eight bridges will be painted and several bridges will be rehabilitated.