NYSDOT: Illegal construction debris dumping causing issues in Rome

Ed Harris

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has repeatedly encountered large areas of illegally dumped construction debris along State Route 49 in Rome and have involved the state police and Rome Police Department, NYSDOT said Tuesday in a statement.

Multiple times NYSDOT crews have cleared 20-30 bags of debris at a time, with some loads weighing over 2,000 pounds, officials said.

Multiple times New York State Department of Transportation crews have cleared 20-30 bags of debris at a time, with some loads weighing over 2,000 pounds, officials said.
Multiple times New York State Department of Transportation crews have cleared 20-30 bags of debris at a time, with some loads weighing over 2,000 pounds, officials said.

Most of the debris was found near the State Route 49/825 interchange, NYSDOT said.

“We have a responsibility to keep our highways clear of debris for the safety of the traveling public, but this is an extreme circumstance, and it comes at the department's expense,” said NYSDOT Regional Director, Linda A. Lubey, in a statement. “Every minute we clean up trash along the road, especially at this volume, is a minute that we are not performing regular highway maintenance work that enhances safety for the traveling public.”

NYSDOT has reached out to the New York State Police and the Rome Police Department for assistance with the matter, and they are in the process of posting “No Dumping” signs along the entire corridor, but the debris continues to be left for NYSDOT crews to handle, bag, and dispose of in violation of New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1220.

Anyone with information related to the piles of construction debris is encouraged to contact the New York State Police at (315) 366-6000.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: NYSDOT: Someone illegally dumping thousands of pounds of construction debris

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