Town of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – Central Hudson Gas & Electric is moving forward with its ongoing infrastructure upgrades, focusing on gas line improvements throughout the region. One major project currently underway involves overnight work on Route 9 in the Town of Poughkeepsie.
Overnight Construction Schedule
Work has been taking place on weeknights, beginning around 8 p.m., to minimize daytime traffic disruptions. Contractors have been trenching sections of both the northbound and southbound lanes of Route 9, stretching from the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery to the Spackenkill Road/IBM area.
During the overnight hours, construction crews are tasked with digging trenches, removing outdated gas lines, and installing new replacements. Once the new lines are secured, the trenches are backfilled and covered with a temporary asphalt layer until final paving can be completed.
Lane Closures and Traffic Impact
To safely carry out the work, two of the three lanes in each direction on Route 9 are being closed nightly. While traffic is lighter at night compared to daytime, the closures still impact travel for late-night commuters, local residents, and businesses operating along the busy corridor.
Motorists traveling through the area are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time, especially as detours and reduced lanes may cause delays. Drivers are also reminded to use caution and reduce speeds when approaching work zones.
Overlapping Traffic Concerns
The project coincides with another major traffic factor: the Dutchess County Fair, which begins this week in Rhinebeck. The fair traditionally brings heavy volumes of vehicles onto Route 9, creating potential bottlenecks both north and south of Poughkeepsie.
Officials are urging drivers to remain especially alert as the combination of fair traffic and overnight lane closures could make travel more challenging. Alternate routes may help ease congestion for those not attending the fair or traveling through the impacted sections of Route 9.
Ongoing Infrastructure Improvements
The work on Route 9 is part of Central Hudson’s larger initiative to modernize gas infrastructure across the Hudson Valley. Replacing aging gas lines is intended to improve reliability, enhance safety, and better serve growing residential and commercial needs in the region.
Central Hudson has stated that while overnight projects may cause temporary inconvenience, the upgrades are critical to ensuring long-term service quality for customers.
Looking Ahead
The exact timeline for the Route 9 project has not been finalized, but work is expected to continue for several weeks. Local officials and Central Hudson are keeping residents informed of progress and any significant changes to traffic flow.
For now, motorists traveling through Poughkeepsie and Rhinebeck should expect slower travel times, plan accordingly, and stay aware of posted signage directing traffic around active construction zones.
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