Reporting Meeting of 27 August 2007

(For Distribution 10 September 2007)

· Ron Serapilio welcomed all to the meeting describing his personal survival of a car-mirror strike on Cape Cod.

· George Bailey delivered the invocation.

· The Rotary guest attending the meeting was Dan Graves from Wilton, who is seeking candidates for the Rotary Youth Leadership award.

· Other guests included our speaker, Dan Moore, and Mike Brewster.

· Ron Serapilio described the BOD's approval of several donations, mentioning the club’s intention of helping the Schenectady Free Health Service out of its financial bind.

· Dan Stec purchased a chance on a $5000 drawing while visiting a Maine Rotary club. Should it win, the prize has been designated for our club.

· Mark Gasparovic collected Happy Dollars.

· Sandy Kominoski writes: “A special thank you is in order for the members of Burnt Hills Ballston Lake Rotary who graciously donated to the June 3, 2007 National Kidney Foundation (NKF), "Kidney Walk". It is not often that you are able to see the benefits that your donations go to. I applied to the NKF for supplements for two of my patients who were in great need of extra protein and calories. Both of these people were approved and are now on the way to better health because you care. Thank you for helping me help those who are in need.”

· Mark Gasparovic introduced the evening’s speaker and program.

The primary objective of this $31 million project is to replace the existing deteriorated structure carrying NY State Route 7 over I-87 (Exit 6). The NYS Department of Transportation has chosen a Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) as the preferred feasible alternative for the project; making it the 1st overhead SPUI in NY State. The SPUI will provide traffic capacity improvements and decrease traffic delay over the existing interchange configuration. In addition to the bridge replacement, the project will reconstruct the road along Route 7 / Route 2 (Troy-Schenectady Road) from the Wade Road Intersection to just east of the Latham Farms Intersection. Pedestrian improvements include new sidewalk along both sides of the road and the installation of a mid-block crossing just West of Rensselaer Avenue. Bicyclist facilities will also be included to provide safe travel across the new bridge. Landscape improvements will include plantings along the sides of the road of Route 7 / Route 2 within the project limits and in the proposed raised median between Wade Road and Forts Ferry Road. In addition, street lighting, pedestrian signals, traffic signals, and signage will be upgraded.

Present Intersection Conceptual View of SPUI

The picture to the left illustrates the differences between the present diamond interchange and the new SPUI. Inner roadways are added reducing the conflicts and traffic signals from 2 to 1 with consequent improvement in flow.

Planning is complete. Construction is scheduled to start next year with completion in 2010. Traffic will be maintained during construction. Online flow visualization will be found at https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/regional-offices/region1/project-repository/exit6/exit6-visualizations.html

The project also includes the construction of auxiliary lanes on I-87 along both the northbound and southbound lanes between Exit 5 and Exit 6. These will provide additional pavement so that motorists will be able to safely maneuver on to and off of the interstate between these Exits. The clearance under the bridge will be raised 2 feet to current standards, resulting in raising the Route 7 / Route 2 roadway about four feet.

We thank the speaker for an excellent presentation of an interesting project.

Reported by Fred Baily