A worker is pictured crossing Washington Street on Wednesday morning. Efforts to convert Washington from four lanes to three lanes are expected to be completed by the end of the month. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

BEMUS POINT — While Marie Therese-Dominguez, commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation, was in town to announce the $78 million bridge work over Chautauqua Lake, she also highlighted the work the state has done to improve safety in the city of Jamestown.

“We’re … here to celebrate the highway improvement project in Jamestown that will be substantially complete by the end of this month,” she said.

Therese-Dominguez noted that the project converted four lanes of traffic into three on Washington Street, from Fluvanna Avenue to West Second Street. “What this has allowed us to do is install two-way, left-turn lanes as well as new bicycle lanes, which are separated by a buffer from the vehicular traffic,” she said.

Both Fairmount Avenue and Washington Street have been resurfaced and the drainage has been improved. “We think that will help enormously,” she said.

In addition, 11 traffic signs along Washington Street and Fluvanna Avenue will be replaced or modified, and one new traffic signal will be installed on West 6th Street at Whitley Avenue. Pedestrian facilities were upgraded by installing new curb ramps and crosswalks, and new pedestrian signals with countdown timers will be installed.

Jamestown’s construction is expected to cost around $4.7 million once completed.

Mayor Eddie Sunquist thanked Therese-Dominguez and other state officials for their partnership in making Jamestown a safer community. “Several years ago a study came out that said our Washington Street area was too unsafe to cross for pedestrians. What did the Department of Transportation, with the commissioner and Mr. (Frank) Cirillo (DOT Region 5 director) do? They acted and they came up with a plan to help us slow down that traffic,” he said.

Sunquist said these changes will make Jamestown a “friendly place for people to transit and travel through.”

In a statement, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she is proud of the work being done in both the Chautauqua Lake bridge project and the work in Jamestown. “Chautauqua Lake, with its natural beauty and abundance of local attractions, is one of the premier destinations for visitors to Western New York, while the City of Jamestown continues to attract new residents and visitors every year. These two projects in Chautauqua County are the latest examples of our targeted investments that will enhance both resiliency and sustainability in Western New York,” she said.