Taconic Drivers: 'Traffic Was Worse Than Ever'

Traffic on the Taconic State Parkway southbound in Yorktown (near the New Castle border) was jammed this morning and some commuters called it "worse than ever" since it was announced the northbound AMVETS bridge will open to traffic more than a month ahead of schedule. 

The bridge opened partially Tuesday night and was fully open Wednesday morning for the morning rush.

However, the two-lane restriction on southbound side was still in effect, while the three lanes on the northbound side were open in the morning. Officials will be closing one lane on the northbound bridge after the morning commute for some finish work, Department of Transportation spokesperson Sue Stepp told Patch.

"It will take about seven working days to completely reopen the southbound lanes," Stepp said. "They should be completed by the end of next week."

Residents this morning complained of heavy traffic both on the Taconic State Parkway, Route 118 and Underhill Avenue. 

Melissa Valentino wrote on the Yorktown-Somers Patch Facebook page that it should have been made clear the southbound lanes weren't going to be reopened in full today.

"That's where the real problems lie during rush hour," Valentino wrote. "Looked like everyone going north had no problems as usual – there were back on the other side of the road."

According to DOT officials, this morning's delays were due to the fog and a disabled vehicle. 

The bridge was closed in March and was being rehabilitated as part of a $26 million project, which included steel hangers and deck supports, concrete bridge deck and railing; installing new guide rail; and resurfacing the roadway on each end of bridge. 

It was built in 1931 and carries more than 32,000 vehicles per day. The last major rehabilitation was completed in 1989. 

The construction contractor for the project was Tutor Perini Corporation of New Rochelle. DOT officials said the company was the lower bidder for the construction work – at close to $25.988 million. That cost was exceeded when a $141,000 change order was approved for the project, officials said.