WESTCHESTER, NY — There will be multiple lane closures on the New York State Thruway next week.
Upcoming Lane Closures
As previously announced, the overnight closure of exit 9 (Tarrytown – Sleepy Hollow – US Route 9) on the southbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) will begin at 10 p.m. tonight (Friday, Oct. 24) and conclude at 5 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 25. The closure is needed to allow for work on the southbound Thruway in Westchester County to facilitate a series of lane shifts that will occur in the coming weeks and months.
On several overnights during the week of Oct. 27, motorists using the northbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) will encounter two- and three-lane closures. With closure times varying during each overnight, please consult the chart below for specific details. The closures are necessary to facilitate paving operations in the vicinity of exit 9 and the Westchester toll plaza.
New Electronic Highway Sign to Debut
A new temporary variable message sign is being installed along the southbound New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) west of exit 10. The new electronic sign will replace an existing overhead sign that will be removed in the near future. Motorists will see test messages displayed next week prior to the sign being activated to alert drivers about congestion and other traffic issues.
Pile Driving and Other Construction Activity
Construction will continue in the Hudson River as crews place the foundations of the new bridge. Work will include pile driving between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and noon to 7 p.m., Saturday.
A second shift of workers also will continue pile welding, pile cleanout and concrete placement operations associated with foundations.
In addition, work is continuing on the new bridge’s landings. In Westchester, work includes drilling holes into the bedrock for the foundation of the landing. In Rockland, a similar operation is improving the strength of the soil by using aggregate piers, which are constructed with a drill that mixes soil and aggregate (i.e., crushed stone) to form a strong base for the new bridge’s abutment and foundation. The drilling process is less audible than impact pile driving and noise-reducing measures are being implemented to further minimize sound levels. The eight-week operation is anticipated to conclude in November.
Additional work includes:
• Pile cap foundation construction
• Main span foundation construction
• River Road utility work
• Rockland trestle construction, including pile driving
• Support for river-based work from the Rockland trestle
• Survey inspections on existing bridge
Boater Safety
The U.S. Coast Guard has established a Safety Zone surrounding 16 construction barge mooring locations at the project site. No unauthorized vessels are allowed in the Safety Zone. In addition, marine law enforcement will be enforcing the rules of the expanded Regulated Navigation Areas (RNAs) east and west of the Safety Zone. The RNAs stretch 500 yards north and 500 yards south of the existing bridge. Boaters are urged to transit the main channel with no wake at a maximum speed of 5 knots, and to use extreme caution on the river at all times.
More New NY Bridge boater safety information, including the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners and construction site maps, can be found here at NewNYBridge.com. An interactive map showing vessel locations on the Hudson River is also available here for recreational and commercial boaters to get updated information on this very active construction zone. The GPS tracking map is for informational purposes and not intended for navigation.
Mariners also should be aware that TZC will continue work in the vicinity of the side channels under the existing bridge. Additional temporary navigational lights have been installed to further define the 600-foot navigation channel under the main span. Permanent elements of the new bridge are lit per U.S. Coast Guard requirements, as are all moorings, barges and other equipment.