Richard Moody in Columbia-Greene Media reports that construction of a roundabout at the intersection of routes 23 and 9G on the Columbia County side of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge is in full progress now, with minimal delays so far. “The traffic flow is an extra 30 seconds or so,” said Rabbi Zoe Zak, of the Temple Israel of Catskill. “I think this is a great project and an important project, so to have this project, we need to put up with a little bit of disruption.” The state Department of Transportation is spending $4.5 million on the roundabout construction, part of its $14.6 million Skywalk trail project, that is meant to increase foot traffic over the Rip Van Winkle Bridge between the Olana State Historic Site in Greenport and the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill. Construction began this week, and cars are now routed around a temporary roundabout, with construction workers all around. Speeds for vehicles have been reduced to 35 mph, and police have ticketed drivers around the site. “I don’t think the traffic has been that bad,” Jodi Cole, of Cairo, said. “It has been moving for me and I go through that intersection at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day.” The DOT says the roundabout and related parking areas are expected to be complete in the fall, with the total project completed by the end of the year. Read the full story at HudsonValley360.com.