Something As Simple As This New Emergency I-95 U-Turn May Save Lives

TOWN OF MAMARONECK, NY — A simple new tool for first responders could make a huge difference in an emergency.

The NYS Thruway Authority announced on Wednesday that the completion of a new U-turn near exit 17 on the New England Thruway (I-95) in Westchester County will make it easier for the Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department and other first responders to reach emergencies more quickly.

"We all know that every minute counts in an emergency," Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll said. "This easier-to-access U-turn will save valuable time for firefighters responding to a car fire on the highway or house fire in a local neighborhood. Thruway Authority staff worked in close partnership with state and local leaders, including the Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department, to make this new connection a reality. Though small in scale, this project will enormously benefit our motorists and town residents for decades."

The U-turn will give fire trucks, and other emergency vehicles, a safer area to access and cross the highway.

The new U-turn will be restricted to emergency and Thruway vehicles. It will be much more convenient to access and was built wider to better accommodate the large turning radius of fire trucks. There is also more room for emergency vehicles, such as New York State Police cars and ambulances, to accelerate and decelerate when entering and exiting the U-turn.

The new U-turn is located about 600 feet south of another U-turn near exit 17 (Larchmont - Chatsworth Avenue). During heavy traffic, fire trucks have historically experienced difficulty crossing the three southbound lanes to access the U-turn while responding to incidents on northbound I-95. In those cases, emergency vehicles have had to travel more than two miles to the next exit, leave the highway and then re-enter I-95 in the northbound direction, adding up to 10 minutes to their response time, Thruway officials said.

"This newly relocated U-turn, requested by our Fire Department, will provide our firetrucks and other emergency vehicles a safer location to access and cross I-95 while helping them reach emergencies more quickly," Mamaroneck Town Supervisor Jaine Elkind Eney said. "Our First Responders’ safety is of paramount importance as they keep us safe each and every day. We are grateful to everyone who recognized the significance of this much-needed project and saw it through to swift completion."

After hearing from state and local leaders along with fire officials, the Thruway Authority fast-tracked construction by using its own in-house construction crews to open the U-turn this year. Maintenance crews from the Authority’s New York Division constructed the U-turn this fall, demonstrating a cost-effective approach to this project. The Albany and Buffalo divisions sent specially trained personnel and equipment to assist with the effort.

"The completion of the new U-turn will help ensure the safety of firefighters and emergency personnel responding to incidents on I-95 by giving us a safer access to cross the highway," said Mamaroneck Fire Department Chief Shaun Hughes. "We appreciate the response from our elected officials and New York State Thruway Authority, and the speed at which the project was completed."