Stylish streetlights just the beginning for village

MILLERTON — The makeover for Dutchess Avenue in Millerton has finally been completed, following the installation of four stylish new streetlights along the relatively new village sidewalk earlier this month.

Funding for both the sidewalk, which was installed last summer, as well as the streetlights came from the village’s CHIPs (Consolidated Highway Improvement Program) fund, which is annual funding from the state reserved for highway projects, usually road paving.

But as Mayor John Scutieri explained, the roads in Millerton have been in relatively good shape during the last few years. Meanwhile, CHIPs funds have built up in a reserve to the point where the Village Board felt comfortable dipping into that account for Dutchess Avenue.

“That sidewalk was pretty dark, so the street lights were a safety issue first of all,� the mayor explained, elaborating that the idea with the lighting is to guide visitors to utilize parking spaces on both Dutchess Avenue and Century Boulevard, just up the road.

Another idea is to install more lights along Main Street in front of Veterans’ Park, and the long-term goal is to line Century Boulevard with sidewalks and similar lighting, according to Scutieri.

The mayor said that Century Boulevard is a fairly obvious choice for commercial expansion in the village, due to its wide road and parking capabilities.

“It’s not going to be inexpensive,� he said. “We’re going to need drainage and sidewalks installed, so it’s too big of a project for CHIPs funding.�

Those funds will probably be used to address pavement issues on Fish and South Center streets, he said.

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