$44.6 Million Thruway Project Completed In Rockland, Orange Counties

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Work has ended on a $44.6 million pavement improvement project on I-87 in the critical corridor spanning Rockland and Orange counties that was expected to be done by the end of 2023.

"The timing couldn’t be better for the completion of this much needed improvement project," State Senator Bill Weber, who represents Rockland, said in an announcement. "This already busy stretch of the Thruway is only going to see increased traffic as we get closer to the holiday season, and it is good to know the work is done."

Overseen by the New York State Thruway Authority, the work covered nearly 10 miles between exit 15, New Jersey - I-287 - NJ Route 17 South, in western Rockland County to southern Orange County.

Starting in May, Yonkers Contracting Company, the project contractor, conducted full-depth pavement repairs — meaning crews removed and replaced the most deteriorated portions on the nearly 10-mile stretch of roadway from milepost 29.4 to 38.7.

The work, covering 60 total lane miles, improved the structural integrity of the roadway. Crews installed a new two-course asphalt overlay to provide a smoother ride for motorists, installed new guiderails, and upgraded drainage systems and culverts.

Commuters deserve dependable roadway infrastructure they can feel good about that doesn't pose risks to their safety or their vehicles, State Senator James Skoufis said.

In 2022, motorists took more than 376 million trips and drove 7.7 billion miles on the Thruway system. This stretch gets some of the most traffic, Authority Acting Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said in May.

"This section of the thruway is traveled by 92,000 vehicles daily, many of whom are Rockland residents who rely on it heavily due to this county’s severely limited mass transit options to the city," said Rockland County Executive Ed Day.

The Authority’s approved 2024 budget invests a total of $451 million to support its Capital Program, which is scheduled to invest $2.4 billion into capital projects over the next five years — a $500 million increase compared to the 2023 budget.

"New York State continues to revitalize its infrastructure to provide motorists and commercial vehicles alike with a reliable roadway for generations to come," Gov. Kathy Hochul said.