For Immediate Release: March 19, 2010

Thruway Authority Announces Lane Shifts for 15-mile Reconstruction Project between Interchanges 39 & 40 Set to Resume

The New York State Thruway Authority today announced that the 15-mile pavement reconstruction project between Interchange 39 (Syracuse, Fulton, I-690) and Interchange 40 (Weedsport, Auburn, Route 34), in Onondaga and Cayuga Counties, has resumed for the 2010 construction season.   Motorists are advised that traffic lane shifts will begin Thursday, March 25, 2010, weather permitting.

The project, which began in the fall of 2008, includes the complete reconstruction of two travel lanes in both directions, shoulder work, rehabilitation of four bridges, reconstruction and various safety improvements of ramps at Interchanges 39, 40 and the Warners Travel Plaza, installation of CCTV traffic monitoring cameras (used to assist the Authority in incident response and traffic management), in-pavement vehicle count stations, and weigh-in motion stations to detect truck loads and the relocation of utilities.

To mitigate traffic impacts during the project, construction is taking place in three, five-mile segments. Ten miles of eastbound travel lanes were reconstructed in 2009.  Work on the final five-mile eastbound segment will begin Thursday, March 25, weather permitting, when all eastbound traffic between mileposts 294.2 and 289.3 will be shifted to the westbound side of the system.  Work on this segment is tentatively scheduled to be completed by mid-July 2010.

This will be the first of three planned segments of reconstruction taking place in 2010.  The second segment is tentatively scheduled to begin Wednesday, April 7, and will take place in both westbound lanes between mileposts 301.2 and 304.5.  All westbound traffic will be shifted to the eastbound side of the system while work takes place through September 2010.

The third segment will take place in the westbound lanes between mileposts 289.3 and 294.8 and is tentatively scheduled to begin the week of July 26 and be completed in November 2010.  As with the second segment, all westbound traffic will be shifted to the eastbound side of the system while work takes place. In all instances, two lanes in both directions will continue to be open a majority of the time.

All work is weather dependent and subject to change.

Prior to the project’s inception, to further mitigate traffic impacts, the Authority worked closely with the New York State Department of Transportation and local emergency service providers to develop an extensive incident management plan. Similar to last year’s work, the Authority will continue to utilize the incident management plan as necessary, as well as a variety of strategies to manage traffic flow during construction. However, to avoid traffic delays, Thruway travelers and commercial traffic are strongly encouraged to travel during off-peak hours and allow extra time for travel during the scheduled construction.

The Authority will continue to update motorists about the project and any delays that may result,  via electronic Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) placed along the highway and by Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) broadcasts on 1610 AM in the Rochester area, 1620 AM in the Syracuse, Waterloo/Geneva areas, and 540 AM in the Utica area.  As needed, the Authority will also send project updates, complete with pertinent lane closure information, to the media. Thruway motorists may also receive the latest lane closure information by calling 1-800-THRUWAY (800-847-8929).

All motorists are reminded that the speed limit will be reduced when traveling through the construction zone. Motorists are reminded to obey the posted work zone speed limit signs; fines are doubled for speeding through work zones.

The three-year, $128 million project is being performed by Cold Spring Construction Company of Akron, NY, and is scheduled for completion in November 2011.

For additional details on the Interchange 39 & 40 Reconstruction Project, please visit the project webpage located on the Authority website at the following link: http://www.nysthruway.gov/projectsandstudies/projects/i39-i40/index.html

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