For Immediate Release: 06/30/2020
Contact: Office of Media Relations and Communications | (518) 471-5300 | public.info@thruway.ny.gov
THRUWAY AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
TO FOUR-MILE SECTION OF ROADWAY ACROSS CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY
$20.8 Million Project Completed Weeks Earlier Than Scheduled and On Budget
Project Included Completely Rebuilding More Than 14 Lane Miles of Thruway, Full Depth Pavement Repairs, Guiderail Replacement, and Additional Safety Enhancements
Speed Limit Returned to 65MPH Throughout the Project Corridor
The New York State Thruway Authority today announced the completion of a major capital project to an approximately four-mile section of the NYS Thruway (I-90) that traverses the Cattaraugus Territory in Western New York. The $20.8 million project included the complete repair and rebuild of approximately 14 lane miles of the Thruway and additional safety enhancements. The project was completed weeks earlier than scheduled and on budget.
“Our focus from the start was to provide a safe and reliable roadway that the millions of drivers that travel this section each year deserve, and I am proud to announce that we have delivered on that promise weeks earlier than planned,” Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll said. “We thank the Seneca Nation for their partnership and for working with us as we completed this project which utilized Nation employees and equipment.”
Originally started in Fall 2019, the two-phased project included the complete repair and rebuild of approximately four miles of the Thruway, or 14 lane miles, on I-90 between exit 57A (Eden – Angola) and exit 58 (Silver Creek). During the project, crews used approximately 125,000 tons of asphalt pavement and more than 20,000 tons of gravel subbase to completely rebuild the roadway down to the concrete base. The project also included additional safety enhancements including the replacement of more than 20,000 linear feet (approximately 3.75 miles) of guiderail, drainage improvements, and new roadway striping for enhanced visibility.
The contractor, Union Concrete and Construction Corp. of West Seneca, completed the second phase of the project. Crews generally worked 24-hour shifts, 6 days a week. At the peak of construction, Union Concrete used a workforce of 50 employees on site each day, including employment rights participation rates agreed to by the Seneca Nation and the contractor.
With the completion of the project, the speed limit in both directions between exit 57A and 58 has been returned to 65MPH.
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The Thruway is scheduled to convert to an entirely cashless tolling system by the end of 2020. For more information and project updates, go to thruway.ny.gov/cashless.
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