GREENE – Motorists traveling through Greene on state Route 12 this month may be experiencing some minor delays, but the $16 million state transportation department project will be tremendously helpful to the truckers and employees of Raymond Corporation.

“Once they complete the work, it’s going to be a huge improvement for us,” said Rick Harrington, vice president and general manager of Raymond, adding that New York State Department of Transportation Region 9 officials have kept in constant contact with the forklift manufacturer.

A 5.5-mile stretch from just south of Genegantslet Road to just north of Harbor Road in the Town of Greene will receive pavement, safety and drainage improvements, including turning lanes at all intersections. The project replaces a long deteriorating, 30 plus year-old section of Rt. 12 and improve the intersection overlap of routes 41 and 206. The project also includes enhancements that were recommended back in the late 1990s by a Chenango County Chamber of Commerce task force. Construction is slated to end in Fall 2013.

Having turning lanes coming off Route 12 will be very helpful to delivery trucks for Raymond, Harrington said.