Major Forest Road Upgrade to Transform Major Kiryas Joel Corridor

By Daily Monroe Staff

Village officials are asking residents to prepare for construction as work begins on a major $10 million project to modernize the Forest Road corridor, an investment they say will bring long-needed improvements to one of Kiryas Joel's busiest roadways.

While motorists should expect delays during construction, village officials are emphasizing the long-term benefits. The project will widen sections of Forest Road, add additional turning lanes to improve traffic flow, construct new sidewalks, install upgraded traffic signals, and completely repave the corridor.

Officials say the goal is to bring Forest Road up to the standards needed for one of the village's primary thoroughfares as Kiryas Joel continues to grow.

Construction is nearing completion on Seven Springs Road, while work on Bakertown Road is expected to continue for another four to six weeks. Once that project is completed, construction will shift to the Forest Road corridor. Bid openings were held last week, and the construction contract is expected to be signed in the coming weeks.

At the same time, Orange & Rockland Utilities will begin a separate project to install a new electric line from its new substation along the entire length of Forest Road. In addition, developers of the Forest Edge project will be installing a new sewer main along the corridor.

With several major infrastructure projects taking place simultaneously, village officials are encouraging residents to plan ahead, expect delays, and allow extra travel time. They emphasized that while the construction will cause temporary inconvenience, the result will be a safer, more efficient Forest Road designed to serve Kiryas Joel's growing transportation needs for years to come.