ALBANY, NY (07/24/2013)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald today announced that work is underway on an innovative, $1.5 million construction project to replace the deck of the Hutchinson River Parkway bridge over Boston Post Road (U.S. Route 1) in the Village of Pelham Manor, Westchester County. The project will utilize accelerated construction methods to significantly reduce its duration and minimize traffic impacts, culminating early next month when the bridge deck is replaced in a mere four days.
The project is funded through the NY Works program and meets the goals of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's Drivers First initiative to ensure that construction causes the least impact to motorists.
"Through Governor Cuomo's NY Works program, we are replacing bridge decks and improving transportation infrastructure across the state to enhance mobility, support economic growth and create jobs," Commissioner McDonald said. "With creativity and extensive pre-planning, this bridge deck on one of the busiest highways in the State is being replaced in only four days to minimize impacts to motorists and keep New York moving."
The deck replacement is scheduled to begin the morning of Tuesday, August 6, and will be complete on Saturday, August 10. Drivers should plan alternate routes to avoid this area during this time.
During the construction, Boston Post Road will be detoured onto Interstate 95 and closed to through traffic at its junction with the Hutchinson River Parkway. Both northbound and southbound Hutchinson River Parkway traffic will be diverted through the Boston Post Road on and off ramps. The normal traffic pattern on Hutchinson River Parkway and Boston Post Road is scheduled to resume on Saturday, August 10.
The Hutchinson River Parkway is a major commuting route connecting Westchester County with the Bronx and New York City. It carries an average of more than 83,000 vehicles each day. Route 1 is a heavily used commercial corridor.
The bridge is one of 13 structures being rehabilitated in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties as part of a $28 million NY Works contract. The construction contractor for the project is Harrison & Burrowes Bridge Constructors, Inc. of Glenmont, Albany County.
NY Works focuses on improving the condition of bridges, raising them from fair condition to good condition in order to extend their service life. This rehabilitation work will better preserve the state's infrastructure and guard against the need for more costly, in-depth construction. Bundling projects sites within close geographic locations into a single contract enables DOT to lower expenses and obtain lower bids.
It is imperative that motorists remember to drive carefully through this and the many other highway and bridge construction zones they will encounter during this construction season.
For real-time travel information, call 511 or visit www.511NY.org. 511NY is New York State's official traffic and travel information source. The 511NY site and mobile app offer free, 24/7, statewide, real-time traffic and transit information for all of New York State. It also offers a transit trip planner, camera views, as well as weather alerts and forecasts. New features available at the site – www.511ny.org – include additional mobile app features, border crossing times, new notifications on the home page, and an interface that is easier to navigate.
Follow New York State DOT on Twitter: @NYSDOT, and on Facebook at facebook.com/NYSDOT.
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