Major Middletown Infrastructure Projects Happening in 2026

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y.—Multiple large water, road, and municipal projects in the city of Middletown will continue or be completed in 2026.

This will include the final touches on the Downtown Revitalization Initiative project, the finishing of the new city courthouse, renovation of crosswalks, and more.

The courthouse renovations will be completed and the building opened in June or July, Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano told The Epoch Times on May 22.

The renovations on the federal courthouse, which closed in 2014, will turn the building into a modern and functioning facility, where two full-time judges will preside.

DeStefano said that because of changes in court regionalization, the Middletown courts now serve more than just the Middletown area. The state therefore mandated that a second courthouse be built. The project cost about $6 million, and the city received a $3 million state grant to help with construction.

The expansion of the city court system would also allow the Middletown Police Department to move out of the basement offices of the current city court and use more space, DeStefano said. He estimated that the expansion of the police offices would cost $1 million to $1.5 million.

Across the road from the soon-to-be-finished courthouse is another major city project, which is the two-level parking garage currently under construction. Phase one of the garage, which DeStefano estimated will be finished by July or August, is set to provide 80 parking spots.

Phase one of the garage cost a total of about $5 million, of which $2.5 million was covered by state grants. The mayor estimated that the yet unfunded phase two of the project will cost $3.5 million to $4.5 million to complete. Phase two is expected to create 250 more parking spaces.

More intersections in the city are due for renovation in 2026, and they will be receiving both aesthetic upgrades and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance features. DeStefano said that several intersection repavings will happen this year and that because funds from the state Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program will be used, it is required that the intersections be made to accommodate handicapped people.

Additions to the crosswalks to help the handicapped include bumpy pads on the sidewalks, ramps onto and off the crosswalks, and crossing poles that make beeping sounds to indicate it is safe to cross the road.

DeStefano said that the final improvements to the city using the Downtown Revitalization Initiative funds will be happening in 2026, with final work on parking lots and sidewalk repairs. The city of Middletown received a $10 million grant from the state to jump-start public and private investment in the area.

The city is partnering with Orange County to open the Middletown Transit Center, which will be centered around the Middletown Coach USA bus station. The project will revamp the area, adding parking spaces and redoing the parking lots. There will also be electric bike charging stations, and the center will connect to the 20-mile Heritage Trail.

The project has secured $7.5 million in federal grants, and DeStefano said that the last piece of property that needs to be secured will be acquired soon. The mayor said he thinks that construction can begin by the end of the year.

Several water infrastructure projects are also under development in Middletown. The mayor said that high-pressure water mains that go from the treatment plant to Monhagen and Oliver Avenue have been replaced. The project cost $4 million and was funded partially by a $500,000 grant.

The designs for a second, low-pressure water main replacement running from the plant to the Monhagen–Oliver Avenue area are 90 percent complete, DeStefano said. The project has received $3.5 million in federal grants with the help of Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.).

The process of designing projects takes months, the mayor said, and design progress needs to be reported to grant agencies, which make sure that steps are being taken toward the goal of the grant. When the design is done, bidding takes place for who will complete the project, which can also take several months.

DeStefano said that replacing the water pipes and water tanks is important because it improves water pressure, which is important in fighting fires. The quality of water also degrades as old pipes become filled with residue.