"Cover the Kensington" Concerns Addressed at Public Sessions

October 4, 2023

ICYMI, last week NYSDOT held a few sessions of public meetings to address concerns and illuminate further details on the "Cover the Kensington" project. Watts' Jeanette Koch, PE and Justin Kellogg, QEP attended the public hearing presentation for the proposed $922M, Route 33/Kensington Expressway project. The project aims to construct a landscaped tunnel to cover almost a full mile of the Kensington Expressway. By covering the expressway goals include reconnecting Humboldt Parkway with cross streets and restoring the parkway with green space. These items have been long-time goals of Restore Our Community Coalition - Buffalo, NY. The estimated total construction cost of the Build Alternative is $1.07 billion. The Public comment period for the project is open until October 27, 2023.

Watts is part of Labella's consultant team, performing the hazardous waste/contaminated materials study, noise study, and vibration study, preliminary drainage design, preliminary utility design for the entire project, along with the addition of the 1R local street design for the New York State Department of Transportation on the drainage and utility work design for the entire project.

To learn more on this project: https://kensingtonexpressway.dot.ny.gov/Documents.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3xKTlEXIX9371yFWNULCmLG4Og_GAJ3LXwUmOTmosz4Xu-FjuqXbsPa1s