The NYS DOT issued a Stop Work Order to METRA on Tuesday, March 1, for construction work on Route 17 in Sloatsburg, NY.

The surrounding voices from Sloatsburg and up through Tuxedo have been heard loud and clear.

During a Tuesday meeting between Sloatsburg and the NYS DOT, the condition of Route 17 was addressed and NYS DOT Acting Regional Director Todd Westhuis gave a wry smile and said that he intended to have a “sit down soon” with the contractors on that job — which was awarded to METRA by the Western Ramapo Sewer District.

Immediately after the Sloatsburg/NYS DOT conclave at Village Hall, the New York State Department of Transportation began rooting out the road trouble along Route 17 by issuing a Stop Work Order to METRA.

New York State Road Route 17 is one of the oldest and the longest road in New York. Also called the Liberty Highway, the road at one time connected New York City to Cleveland, Ohio.

It took until Wednesday, March 3, just after noon, with a little back up from the Ramapo Police Department, to actually get METRA to stop work on the project. Jonathan Degraw and George Clarke, both from the NYS DOT, had the Ramapo Police intervene on Wednesday after the Stop Work Order was ignored.

A METRA Supervisor on the scene had became “confrontational” with the NYS DOT representatives until the Ramapo Police helped sort out the issue.

The Stop Work Order along Route 17 will be in effect until after a Tuesday, March 9, morning meeting between METRA and NYS DOT in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Westhuis is acting director for the NYS DOT in both Westerchester and Rockland counties and concurred at the Sloatsburg meeting that local dynamics and character are an important element to state highway management.

Sloatsburg Trustees Peter Akey and John Bonkoski both addressed the condition of Route 17 during Tuesday’s presentation by members of the Sloatsburg Revitalization Committee.

Trustee Dan O’Leary has reported to the Village Board over the last several months his frustrations as the Village Public Works Commissioner to get METRA to smooth the road and make it safer for local commuters and residents.