NYSDOT Completes Rehabilitation And Bridge Replacement

ALBANY, NY (11/22/2011)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Joan McDonald today announced the rehabilitation of the I-86 Coopers Plains interchange in the Town of Campbell will be completed tomorrow, in time for Thanksgiving travelers, and well ahead of schedule and under budget. Initial plans called for the project to be completed by the end of 2013. The project cost $12.39 million to complete, which is below the $12.494 million that NYSDOT originally projected.

"The Coopers Plains interchange project is a fine example of how NYSDOT is changing the culture and accelerating capital projects," said Commissioner McDonald. "The DOT is not only about promoting safer, more efficient mobility, but it's also about getting the job done well, and as quickly as possible to minimize congestion, delays and inconvenience for people who rely on New York's transportation network for their livelihoods."

NYSDOT has been responsible for the design, management and inspection of the project. The agency's close work with contractor Cold Spring Construction Co., Inc. of Akron, N.Y. made the accelerated construction schedule and tight cost control possible, resulting in a high-quality job, the Commissioner pointed out. She noted that this job is typical of past collaborations on other major I-86 projects already completed in the area with this same team.

State Senator Thomas F. O'Mara said: "Completing the rehabilitation of the I-86 Coopers Plains interchange is a vital regional infrastructure enhancement, and we're grateful for the Cuomo administration's attention to it. The fact that the project's being completed ahead of schedule and cost effectively continues to signal the important message that New York State is serious about rebuilding our economy piece by piece, and step by step, as quickly as possible. That's a critical message to keep sending."

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano said: "The state Department of Transportation and the contractor, Cold Spring Construction Co., deserve credit for bringing this project to an early completion date. This is a significant interchange and bridge project and I'm sure area residents who travel I-86 daily are grateful to see the project conclude before winter weather sets in."

Cold Spring President Stephen Forrestal said: "It's a privilege to work for and with NYSDOT to build jobs like this. We're lucky to have this work in this economy and we really enjoy being involved with projects that are such a great service to the traveling public. We've been doing this for 100 years and look forward to more."

NYSDOT awarded the contract to Cold Spring in January of this year. The original completion date was December 2013.

McDonald said that NYSDOT initiated the project to replace the aging interchange bridge carrying Meads Creek Road (State Route 960M) over I-86. Without rehabilitation, continued use of that bridge would have resulted in weight postings or lane closures.

Additionally, I-86 and its two bridges over Meads Creek had been subject to flooding, which forced NYSDOT to close them periodically. To correct that problem, NYSDOT increased the highway's elevation, improved drainage on the bridge lanes, and constructed new culverts and an earthen berm adjacent to the highway.

NYSDOT saved time and money in part thanks to the use of soil and fill material taken from nearby property owned by the agency. The removal of this material also provided a secondary benefit to the state by opening up space for agency equipment and staging needs.

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