News from New York State Thruway Authority

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Motorists Reminded to Drive Safely and Plan for Increased Traffic Volume during Labor Day Weekend

Sign Up for Free TRANSalerts before the Holiday Weekend

ALBANY, NY (08/26/2008; 1328)(readMedia)-- The New York State Thruway Authority and State Police Troop T today reminded motorists to drive responsibly, buckle up and be mindful of other vehicles during the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.

"Motorists are encouraged to anticipate heavier traffic and travel safely this Labor Day weekend as it is one of the busiest travel periods of the year," said Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer. "Therefore lane restrictions will be removed wherever possible in order to reduce congestion and assist in getting motorists to their destination in a safe and timely manner."

Last year, nearly 2.9 million vehicles traveled more than 102 million miles on the Thruway between Friday, August 30 and Monday, September 3. This year, the Thruway Authority will take the following steps to help facilitate traffic and keep motorists informed along the 641-mile superhighway.

Suspend Construction - The Authority will suspend all construction requiring temporary lane closures. The following are the construction schedules for the four divisions along the Thruway:

New York Division - Construction requiring lane closures will be suspended from noon on Thursday, August 28 until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 2.

Albany Division -Construction requiring lane closures will be suspended from noon on Thursday, August 28 until noon on Tuesday, September 2.

Syracuse Division - Construction requiring lane closures will be suspended from 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 21 until 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 2. (This construction suspension includes closures for the State Fair)

Buffalo Division -Construction requiring lane closures will be suspended from noon on Thursday, August 28 until 10 p.m. on Monday, September 1.

Provide Traveler Information - If major traffic delays occur, motorists will be advised via the Authority's Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) and Dynamic Message Signs (DMS). The HAR stations will broadcast any traffic delays and traffic advisories, along with safety tips to travelers on the Thruway. Motorists can tune their vehicle radios to the following frequencies: New York City area and Tappan Zee Bridge Corridor - 530 AM; Newburgh, Kingston, Albany and Buffalo areas - 1610 AM; Syracuse and LaFayette area - 1620 AM; and Utica area - 540 AM. Motorists may also receive up-to-date road condition information by calling toll-free 1-800-THRUWAY (1-800-847-8929) or logging onto www.nysthruway.gov .

The Authority will also issue TRANSalerts to subscribers to inform them of major unscheduled incidents that may affect their travel on the Thruway. Since its inception in August of 2006, nearly 5,00 subscribers have signed up to receive these free TRANSalert notifications.

For the most up-to-date information about incidents affecting travel on the Thruway, sign up for the TRANSalert service by visiting the Authority's website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/ .

Monitor Traffic Incidents - In addition to State Police Troop T and maintenance patrols, the Authority will monitor traffic conditions with the use of closed circuit television cameras. The Authority has found that active monitoring facilitates quicker incident detection and response, thereby minimizing customer delays.

Based on past traffic data, holiday traffic delays are most likely to occur at the Lackawanna, Ripley and Williamsville Toll Barriers, and on the South Grand Island Bridge near Buffalo; Rochester-Victor Interchange 45; Albany Interchange 23 and 24; the Canaan Toll Barrier near the Massachusetts Border; Newburgh Interchange 17; Harriman Interchange 16; Woodbury Toll Barrier, and the New Rochelle and Tappan Zee Bridge Toll Barriers near New York City.

To further minimize delays, motorists are encouraged to use one of the Travel Plazas or rest areas located along the Thruway to take a break. Drowsy driving ranges from falling asleep at the wheel to simply not paying attention to driving while fatigued or lack of sleep.

"During the Labor Day weekend travel tends to be very busy so motorists are encouraged to stay alert and aware of their surroundings and take frequent breaks," said Troop T Major Robert C. Meyers. "Driving responsibly and giving yourself plenty of time to reach your destination is imperative to ensuring that you arrive alive."

In the event of an emergency, breakdown or minor accident, motorists are advised not to stop within or near travel lanes. If the vehicle can be driven, motorists should travel to the nearest exit or safe location. If the vehicle is inoperable, motorists should activate four-way flashers and stay inside the vehicle until authorized personnel arrive to provide assistance. In an event of an emergency, motorists are advised to call either 911 or 1-800-842-2233 to report the situation. Travelers are advised to never walk along the roadway, as it is extremely dangerous.

The Thruway Authority offers these additional safety tips for a trouble-free holiday weekend:

• Travelers should never stop along the shoulder of the highway unless there is an emergency.

• Check windshield wipers and lights for proper operation. Inflate tires according to manufacturer's instructions.

• Make sure luggage racks are appropriately secured.

• Double check connections and lights on units in tow.

• Be prepared for unexpected delays; allow extra time for travel.

The Thruway Authority and State Police Troop T wish all motorists an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend. Remember, buckle up - it's the law.

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Note to Media: For an audio sound byte pre-recorded by Authority spokesperson Sarah Kampf on this release, please call 1-866-239-2845 and select "Thruway."