Mayor Kraham Announces Start of Main Street Safety Improvement & Paving Project

Two-Year Plan Underway to Rebuild Intersections, Pave Street, Upgrade Pedestrian Safety

(BINGHAMTON, N.Y.)—Mayor Jared M. Kraham on Tuesday announced the start of a major two-year construction project on Main Street in Binghamton, upgrading intersections and pavement conditions from Front Street to Floral Avenue with a focus on improving pedestrian and traffic safety.

Mayor Kraham said: "Main Street serves as the West Side's primary commercial corridor and a vital regional hub for cars, buses, cyclists and pedestrians alike. To support this mix of transportation, we must make the route as safe as possible for all users. Great cities are walkable cities. These improvements and investments in walkable commercial areas will help drive community revitalization and spur continued economic growth. We're also addressing pavement conditions on Main Street, which are some of the worst in Binghamton."

Work includes new curbs, high-visibility crosswalks, ADA-accessible curb ramps, and pedestrian crossing and traffic signals at multiple intersections. Rapid-flashing pedestrian crossing beacons will be installed at 10 locations on the corridor.

Planned safety improvements are anticipated to reduce traffic accidents by 25 percent.

Main Street will also be paved in conjunction with the project, with initial sections being completed in Fall 2025 and final work expected in Summer 2026.

Jennifer Yonkoski, Executive Director of the Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study (BMTS), said: "This project will ensure that everyone who lives, works and travels along the Main Street corridor can do so safely, whether walking, biking, or driving a car. The improvements are focused on reducing crashes and also increasing the safety and visibility of pedestrians and bicyclists."

More than 17,000 vehicles per day navigate the 1.7-mile Main Street corridor between Front Street and the City's border with Johnson City.

Main Street traffic will flow normally during construction, with no planned closures. Pedestrian traffic will be maintained on at least one side of Main Street at all times during construction.

State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said: "As a gateway to the Southern Tier, Binghamton is known for its diverse dining scene, exciting night life, and its connectivity—providing residents safe and easy walking and biking options including the Greenway, which the NYS Department of Transportation was proud to complete. This new investment builds on the commitment to make the city a truly connected community—bringing people and neighborhoods together, accessing all the city has to offer."

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said: "These improvements to Main Street will make a real difference for the thousands of drivers who use it every day. Projects like this are exactly what we need to keep our roads safe and our community moving."

Crews have started work by first upgrading stormwater infrastructure, focusing on intersections between Floral Avenue and Crestmont Road.

The project is paid for through a $4.6 million federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant, facilitated by the Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study (BMTS), and local capital funds.

Vacri Construction, of Binghamton, will perform the $6.2 million in construction work.