STONY POINT, N.Y. — In the small Rockland County town of Stony Point, frustration is mounting as local business owners say a major state-backed construction project is crippling their livelihoods and endangering public safety.
They are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to intervene, saying the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) energy project — a multi-billion-dollar transmission line designed to bring renewable power from Canada to New York City — has created gridlock, noise, and economic losses that some estimate in the millions.
Stony Point Diner owner Archie Kyriacou said the situation is no longer just about profits.
“They put up things overnight, one-way signs. It’s a safety disaster here. Someone is gonna die,” Kyriacou said.
Kyriacou and other local business owners say the constant detours, lane restrictions, and shifting road closures along the busy Route 9W corridor have made it difficult for customers to access their shops and restaurants. What was once a thriving commercial strip now faces empty parking lots and declining sales.
“This project has been nothing but a nightmare. This bridge behind us was supposed to be opened two months ago. It still has not reopened,” Stony Point Town Supervisor Jim Monaghan said.
At a recent news conference, Monaghan joined fellow business owners and local officials to demand accountability from CHPE and the state, saying the project’s disruption has gone far beyond what was promised when construction began.
According to the company, CHPE has committed to a $31 million community benefit plan, which includes $9 million in streetscape improvements for Stony Point, $500,000 in funding for local nonprofits, and $150,000 for a North Rockland Chamber of Commerce small business fund. But local leaders say that is not nearly enough to offset the damage being done.
Congressman Mike Lawler was blunt in his criticism of the project’s support package, calling it inadequate.
“We need a robust CHPE and state-backed emergency grant program for directly affected businesses,” Lawler said.
Lawler said state officials should step in to provide immediate financial relief for small business owners who are struggling to survive as construction drags on.
Meanwhile, residents say the project’s impact goes beyond the local economy. Daily life in Stony Point has been upended by noise, traffic, and the near-constant presence of heavy machinery.
“It’s just pounding, jack-hammering. The vehicles are screeching at all times at night and the morning,” said Chrissy Mann, a Stony Point resident.
The project’s six-day-a-week construction schedule, stretching into late evenings, has left many residents complaining of sleepless nights and fears for pedestrian safety.
Local restaurant owner Eddie Kyriacou said customer traffic has plummeted, and the road configuration has created serious safety hazards.
“Which way do you want them to go? Out onto a 9W? A death trap. Or, they can’t come here no more because of look at all the traffic. This is the epicenter. It’s disgusting,” Kyriacou said.
Town officials have warned that the construction delays and detours are also affecting emergency response times, with ambulances and fire trucks struggling to navigate the congested routes.
Despite the frustration, CHPE maintains that the project will deliver long-term environmental and economic benefits once completed. The transmission line is expected to bring 1,250 megawatts of clean hydroelectric power to New York City, reducing carbon emissions and helping the state meet its climate goals.
Still, for residents and business owners in Stony Point, those benefits feel far off. Many say they’ve been left to deal with the immediate consequences — economic hardship, safety risks, and sleepless nights.
“We support renewable energy,” one business owner said, “but not at the cost of our town’s survival.”
Originally reported by Joe Torres in ABC 7 Eyewitness News.
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