Vestal Road Near Sewage Treatment Plant Expected to Reopen

Drivers can expect some relief soon with the planned restoration of two-way traffic on Vestal Road near the Binghamton-Johnson City sewage treatment plant.

A section of the usually-busy road has been closed to westbound traffic for more than three years because of construction work at the plant.

Vestal town supervisor John Schaffer said he hopes the roadway can be reopened to traffic in both directions within a month.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Schaffer said he's been discussing the situation with Broome County officials. The road is a county road.

When the closure was announced in May 2016, county officials said the one-way restriction would be in effect for two years.

Schaffer said the detour is causing big traffic problems on the Vestal Parkway and has had a negative impact on several Vestal Road businesses.

He said construction equipment at the work site can be moved to allow the road to reopen.

Schaffer said the closure has "gone on for too long." He said: "They've got to wake up and smell the coffee over there. Let's open it up. You're killing our little businesses there and you're hurting anybody that travels there."

Broome County officials were not immediately available Thursday to discuss when two-way traffic may resume on Vestal Road.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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