Project Includes Deck Removal and Replacement, Steel Repairs, Safety Upgrades

Erie Canal Rail Trail to Remain Open During Construction

Project Expected to be Complete in Fall 2026

The New York State Thruway Authority today announced a $12.3 million bridge rehabilitation project is underway on the Thruway (I-90) bridge over NYS Route 5S (milepost 178.38) in Montgomery County, which is located between exit 27 (Amsterdam - NY Route 30) and exit 28 (Fultonville - Fonda - NY Route 30A). The project includes deck replacement, substructure repairs, steel repairs and pavement improvements. The bridge was built in 1953 and carries approximately 25,000 vehicles per day.

“The Thruway bridge over Route 5S is a busy connector in the Mohawk Valley area,” Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare, Esq. said. “This project will enhance safety and extend the lifespan of the bridge for decades to come. Investing in our infrastructure creates a reliable transportation system while maintaining some of the lowest toll rates in the nation.”

Rehabilitating bridges on the Thruway system keeps the structures safe and in serviceable condition and extends their service lives. As part of this project, the bridge will have an extended service life of approximately 50 years.

The Thruway bridge over NYS Route 5 has three piers and is 327 feet long. The project includes the removal of the existing bridge deck, placement of the new bridge deck, repairs to the substructure, steel repairs and pavement work including pavement reconstruction of the approaches. Additional safety upgrades include new guiderail and reflective striping.

The project will be completed in stages. During stage one, eastbound and westbound traffic will be shifted to the eastbound bridge for work on the westbound bridge. When the project pauses in Fall 2025 for the winter, traffic will be shifted back to its original configuration. During stage two of the project in Spring 2026, all traffic will be shifted onto the new westbound bridge for work on the eastbound structure.

During construction, two lanes of traffic will remain open on Route 5S. The Erie Canal Rail Trail will have pedestrian protection installed underneath the bridge over the trail. Motorists may encounter traffic slowdowns or stoppages on Route 5S and the Thruway during construction. Variable Message Signs will advise motorists of the construction work. 

Tioga Construction Company is the project contractor following a competitive bidding process. The project is expected to be completed in Fall 2026. The work is weather dependent, and dates are subject to change.

Motorists are urged to be alert and follow the posted work zone speed limits. Fines are doubled for speeding a work zone.

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 while on the go. Travelers can also visit the Thruway Authority's interactive Traveler Map which features live traffic cameras. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails, which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway.

About the Thruway Authority
The Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway, built in the early 1950s, is one of the oldest components of the National Interstate Highway System and one of the longest toll roads in the nation. The maintenance and operation of the Thruway system is funded primarily by tolls. The Thruway Authority does not receive any dedicated federal, state or local tax dollars and is paid for by those who drive the Thruway, including one-third of drivers from out of state.

In 2024, the Thruway Authority processed more than 400 million toll transactions and motorists drove 8.2 billion miles on the Thruway. The Authority’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan invests $2.7 billion into infrastructure and equipment, an increased commitment of $742 million or 38 percent since the approval of a multi-year toll adjustment plan in 2023. The increased investment will lead to work on approximately 61 percent of the Thruway’s more than 2,800 pavement lane miles as well as the replacement or rehabilitation of 20 percent of the Thruway’s 819 bridges.

The Thruway is one of the safest roadways in the country with a fatality rate far below the nationwide index, and toll rates are among the lowest in the country compared to similar toll roads. The Thruway’s base passenger vehicle toll rate is less than $0.05 per mile, compared to the Ohio Turnpike ($0.06 per mile), the New Jersey Turnpike (up to $0.39 per mile) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike ($0.16 per mile).

The lives of Thruway Authority employees, roadway workers and emergency personnel depend on all of those who travel the highway. Motorists should stay alert and pay attention while driving, slow down in work zones and move over when they see a vehicle on the side of the road. The state’s Move Over Law, which was expanded in March 2024, requires drivers to slow down and move over for all vehicles stopped along the roadway. Safety is a shared responsibility.

For more information, follow the Thruway on Facebook, X and Instagram, or visit the Thruway website.

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