Thruway Postpones Bridge Removal On I-87

MID-HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The planned removal of a damaged overpass on the northbound Interstate 87, originally scheduled for Saturday, will have to wait.

The New York Thruway Authority said the expected snowstorm that is forecast to begin Saturday night and continue into Sunday has prompted the postponement of the work.

“With several inches of snow expected to fall Saturday night into Sunday, the Thruway Authority has decided to postpone this work for the safety of all involved — our motorists, our employees and the crews involved in the removal of the overpass — and to allow our maintenance forces to focus their efforts on clearing and treating the highway,” a statement Thursday from the Thruway Authority said.

The agency said the overpass removal will be rescheduled as soon as the weather allows.

“While this work won’t be happening this weekend, many motorists will be experiencing their first snowfall of the season and should exercise caution on the roads — remember to drive slowly and don’t crowd the plow,” the agency said.

The Thruway Authority had said that the northbound lanes of Interstate 87 from exit 17 in Newburgh to exit 18 in New Paltz would fully shut down to all traffic at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 for at least 12 hours.

During that time, a portion of the damaged Brookside Road overpass in New Paltz was going to be removed.

The Plattekill Service Area was going to be closed during this operation.

The Brookside Road overpass closed to traffic in May. It had been hit by over-height vehicles nine times in 2023 and 27 times since 2019. resulting in considerable damage to the steel that supports the overpass and decreased the amount of weight it can safely carry.