Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of an $18.6 million investment for three separate bridge replacement projects on the Thruway in Central New York.

“The completion of these projects marks another investment in New York’s roadways to modernize our transportation system.” Governor Hochul said. “Infrastructure improvement projects enhance quality of life, keep our roads safe and improve the driving experience for motorists and the commercial industry.”

New York State Thruway Authority Acting Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said, “The three bridge replacement projects in Central New York are part of our ongoing commitment to enhance our aging infrastructure and to maintain a safe and reliable roadway for all motorists on the Thruway. Investing toll dollars back into our bridges provides reliable crossings for the thousands of motorists who use these bridges daily.”

A $5.9 million bridge replacement project on I-90 in Herkimer County was completed in November on time and within its budget. The Millers Grove Road (County Road 53) bridge in the Town of Schuyler (milepost 225.48 and 225.49) was replaced with a modern structure. The original bridge was built in 1952. Approximately 23,000 motorists use the bridge every day. The project also included full depth reconstruction with a profile adjustment of Millers Grove Road beneath I-90 to raise the vertical clearance from 14’3” to 14’6” as well as wider horizontal clearance. New asphalt was also installed on I-90 in both directions on the approaches to the bridge. Safety upgrades included new signage, reflective line striping for enhanced safety and the installation of new guiderail.Bette & Cring LLC of Latham, NY was the contractor for the project.

A $4.6 million bridge replacement project over I-90 in Madison County was completed in November on time and also within its budget. The North Main Street Bridge (milepost 262.01) located in the village of Canastota was replaced with a modern structure. The original bridge was built in 1952. Approximately 1,000 motorists travel over the bridge daily. The new bridge features wider travel lanes and emergency shoulders, increased vertical clearance from 15’3” to 16’6”, new guiderail and a new riding surface. Tioga Construction Company, Inc. of Herkimer, NY was the contractor for the project.

The new Interchange 35 (Syracuse – East Syracuse – NY Route 298) bridge over I-90 (mile post 278.93) in Syracuse is now open and the project is substantially completed. The $8.2 million project replaced the 69-year-old bridge which carries approximately 5,000 motorists daily. The vertical clearance was raised to 16’6” from its current height of 14’3”. Additional safety upgrades included the addition of reflective line striping and the installation of new guiderail. Economy Paving Co., Inc. of Cortland, NY was the contractor for the project.

The Authority’s approved 2024 Budget invests a total of $451 million to support its Capital Program, which is scheduled to invest $2.4 billion into capital projects over the next five years—a $500 million increase compared to the 2023 Budget.

In 2022, motorists took more than 376 million trips and drove 7.7 billion miles on the Thruway system.

State Senator Joseph A. Griffo said, “As a member of the Senate’s Transportation Committee, I understand and recognize the importance of having resilient and reliable infrastructure, which is I am pleased that these bridges have been replaced on the Thruway. These new bridges will enhance safety, improve connectivity and help to drive economic opportunity in the region.”

State Senator Mark Walczyk said, “Improving the driving experience for motorists is crucial to supporting tourism and commerce in rural New York State. Upgrading essential transportation infrastructure keeps business booming and allows travelers to enjoy the treasure that is the 49th Senate District.”

State Senator John W. Mannion said, “The completion of the $8 million Interchange 35 Bridge over the Thruway in East Syracuse is part of my commitment to invest in local infrastructure and improve the safety of our roads. I’ll continue to support highway and bridge upgrades and I thank the Thruway Authority for its sound management of these projects.”

Assemblymember Brian Miller said, “The much-awaited completion of three bridge replacement projects on the Thruway is a welcomed event for Central New York travelers and commuters alike. The $18.6 million infrastructure investment in these bridges was critical to addressing aging infrastructure needs. The North Main Street Bridge over I-90 located in Canastota in Madison County, was 70 years old and constructed when the Thruway was originally built. The $4.6 million dollar construction investment was crucial to upgrading the bridge’s integrity for the high volume of traffic it sees daily. This new construction design also has enhanced safety features, including higher vertical clearance, wider travel lanes, and emergency shoulders. We thank the New York State Thruway Authority for their hard work on the replacement of these three bridges in Central New York to assure travelers have safe, reliable roadways.”

Canastota Mayor Rosanne Warner said, “The Village of Canastota and its residents are elated to have the North Main Street bridge back open for vehicular traffic. The investment of toll dollars to replace the 70-year-old bridge with a modern structure was very well received by the community who relies on this bridge for daily commutes to work and school. It was a lengthy project with a large 5-mile detour, but it was well worth the wait. The construction company was very professional and did a fantastic job. Thank you to the NYS Thruway Authority for investing the money to replace the heavily used bridge. It is greatly appreciated and will be utilized daily for decades to come.”

Schuyler Town Supervisor Anthony J. Lucenti said, “This was much needed work and will provide a safer commute for all residents in the Mohawk Valley.”

For up-to-date travel information, motorists are encouraged to download the Thruway Authority’s  mobile app which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic and navigation assistance on the go.

Travelers can also visit the Thruway Authority’s interactive  Traveler Map for real-time traffic updates and sign up for  TRANSalerts for traffic information.