ELLENVILE – The last road to be rebuilt after it was closed on August 28, 2011 as a result of damage from Hurricane Irene has been reopened.

Ulster Heights Road in Ellenville went back into service on Thursday.

County Executive Michael Hein praised the county DPW workers for their efforts in rebuilding the county's infrastructure. “Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Irene and now on the heels of Hurricane Sandy, the men and women of the Ulster County Department of Public Works are continuing to work around the clock to return our County to normal. The opening of Ulster Heights Road is symbolic of the resilient spirit of our Ulster County community.  It is apropos that Ulster Heights, the last remaining road closure from Hurricane Irene, should open in the immediate wake of Hurricane Sandy,” he said.

Hurricane Irene stormwater created a three story hole in a very steep hillside where the eastbound lane used to be. That created a difficult engineering challenge that county employees overcame along with other obstacles to reopen the road, Hein said.