ALBANY – With the state facing a $10 billion budget deficit over the next two years, its multi-million commitment to the Walkway Over the Hudson should have been put on hold. That’s what State Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun of Blooming Grove says.

Calhoun, a Republican from southern Orange County, told MidHudsonNews.com that granted, she doesn’t live in the Poughkeepsie area, but spending millions on the Walkway now is not prudent.

“You are looking at an almost $40 million project,” she said. “As much as they like it and they are going to say it helps tourism and economic development, the bottom line still is it might not have been the right project for this type of economy, and that’s the kinds of things we have to look at. We have to look at what is absolutely necessary and what is something that can be held off.”

The $38.8 million Walkway project was funded with state, federal and local grant dollars.

It is expected to generate million is returns from those who come to take the walk over the Hudson River between Highland and Poughkeepsie.