Storm King Hwy NY still closed?

[K3VIN]

Does anyone know if the storm king is still closed? I was over that way a month or two ago and the gates were closed. I would like to go over the hill on a ride this weekend.

Thanks!!!!

[Rincewind]

When did it close?  Was it related to one of the hurricanes?  Both times I was there it was open.  

From the wiki: "In summer of 2011 New York's Department of Transportation (DOT) closed the highway to vehicular traffic for four hours on Sundays to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to enjoy it freely. Up to 600 people took advantage of the closures on some of those days. Citing that success, DOT announced in September that it was extending the closures through November."  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm_King_Highway

[K3VIN]

It was a weekend and it was after one of the storms but it wasn't right after the storm. The sign said something about construction. So people than been on the road in the last month?

[Rincewind]

So people than been on the road in the last month?

Last time I was in that area was in August, pre-hurricanes.

Aritcle from 9/29 says it was closed and may be up to 7-days...  http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110929/NEWS/110929687

Article from 10/14 says it was closed again for up to 48hrs...  http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111014/NEWS/111019896/-1/SITEMAP

[K3VIN]

It looks like it is closed on Sundays through the fall

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110920/NEWS/110919761

[BigBen]

In addition to the current closing for hikers, 218 also closes intermittently due to rock slides, especially when it rains or snows. Also, one of the entrances from West Point is always blocked for security reasons.

[Castaway]

218 was closed this past Saturday.

[chosemerveilleux]

I was on it a couple of weeks ago, but it was during the week.  Hopefully it'll be open this Saturday as I wanted to take friend whose never ridden in the area on it.

I don't know how much later in the season  I'd want to go on it (and a few other roads in the area), what with the cooler temps and the run-off from the mountains, the shaded spots are sure to be on the slick side...

[jfusaro]

They closed it for leaf peeping, tree hugging, spotted owl tounge kissing nature lovers to hike it, seems like a waste when 150 hp 100 mph leaf peepers like me appreciate it more. Its closed on Sundays from 11am to 3 pm. It should be open on Saturday. Call the Hudson St. cafe, Cornwall on Hudson. I was up there earlier in the month and it was closed due to the heavy rains we had earlier.

[gforce]

I live 3/10 from the north gate.  We moved here in part because of this road, 55 turns in 3.9 miles.  

This year, there has been a "Hike and Bike" program on Sundays, from 11 to 3 only.  During that time the road is closed to all vehicles.  Once or twice a season, it's closed for a road race.  The Hike and Bike closure is only for the 4-hr period on Sunday and other event closures are usually not for the entire day.

But that's less than half the story.  When it was built between 1916 and 1922, it was one of the most difficult road construction projects ever attempted.  Weather has always been a problem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm_King_Highway

Because of its sheer rock cuts and steep boulder fields, there is risk of avalanche or falling rock whenever there is any kind of weather, even including heavy rain.  Because fatalities have occurred, the State simply closes the gates to the 4 mi of cliffside road when the weather criteria are met.  Because melting snow can create avalanche hazard, the road often stays closed for quite a while after snow storms.  When it's closed, there is signage so indicating at both junctions with route 9W, as well as in the Village of Cornwall on Hudson.

Because it's so near to me, I haven't needed a mechanism to learn the road's DOT status online.  If I or anybody locates one, post up.

[Rincewind]

Lucky guy living so close, gforce!  Thanks for the further insight.  

[chosemerveilleux]

That is some really righteous riding to live that close to.  And I'm not even talking about Storm King.  All of those kick ass roads over in Putnam and the surrounding area are choice cuts.  

[Ack535]

I grew up in Cornwall NY, and rode/drove 218 all the time as a teenager. I really miss that road!