Steel Installation For New North Ave Bridge Will Cause I-95 Closures

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Work on a massive bridge replacement project is progressing, but traffic might not be — at least for a few nights.

The New York State Thruway Authority announced the North Avenue bridge replacement project over the New England Thruway (I-95) in New Rochelle has reached a milestone as steel for the remainder of the new bridge is scheduled to be installed beginning on Tuesday, May 27, weather permitting.

In the meantime, this could mean serious traffic disruptions on the busy highway connecting the east coast.

The overnight work is expected to take four nights to complete and will require lane closures and traffic stops on I-95 to allow for the overhead work. Limited and intermittent traffic stops also will be required on North Avenue near the bridge to stage equipment, according to the agency.

In January 2025, the $31.8 million project to replace the North Avenue bridge moved into its next stage of construction. All northbound traffic on the bridge (heading toward City Hall) is now traveling in the bridge's new outer lane through the work zone, while all southbound traffic (heading toward Main Street) is being detoured at Lockwood Avenue and directed to Memorial Highway.

This traffic pattern will be in place around the clock until later this year to allow the contractor to construct the center section of the bridge, the Thruway Authority said.

The majority of this stage of construction is taking place during the day. However, activities such as the installation of parts of the superstructure will require the work to be done at night. The agency said this approach limits the unavoidable impacts to traffic — both on the highway and within the city — and will help keep workers and drivers safe.

During the upcoming work, two out of three lanes in each direction on I-95 will be closed on weeknights, starting as early as 10 p.m., with full reopening planned by 5 a.m.

Multiple traffic stops lasting up to 20 minutes will take place on I-95 to allow two cranes to safely lift the 130-foot-long steel girders, and other large steel segments from flatbed trucks stationed on North Avenue. New Rochelle police officers or flaggers will briefly stop and hold traffic on North Avenue as needed after 8 p.m., while equipment is moved.

Drivers may wish to take alternate routes around the work zone to avoid delays, according to the Thruway Authority.

The public can check the Thruway Authority's Facebook and X accounts for the latest travel advisories.

The North Avenue bridge replacement project began in January 2023. During its first stage, the contractor built the outermost components of the new bridge, installing piles, constructing the center pier, erecting steel girders and pouring concrete for the road deck. Burling Lane was converted into a one-way road for westbound traffic.

Since the start of this year, contractor crews have removed the remainder of the old crossing and installed foundations to support the new center section of the bridge.

A new traffic pattern has been in place since 2023 to allow cars, buses, and other vehicles with three axles or less to use the bridge.

New traffic patterns are in effect both on surface roads and I-95:

• Southbound drivers should follow the posted detour at Lockwood Avenue, just before the bridge, and give themselves extra time; others who don't need to be in the area should seek alternate routes.
• First responders, cars, buses, delivery trucks, and vehicles with three axles or less have access to the northbound lane of the bridge at all times.
• Left turns from Garden Street to North Avenue are prohibited.
• Burling Lane between North Avenue and May Street is still closed to traffic.
• Two lanes remain open to traffic on Station Plaza North and drivers can continue to turn left or right onto North Avenue.
• Pedestrian/bicycle traffic can continue to use the walkway over I-95 connecting Burling Lane and the train station.

When the project is completed later this year, the new modern bridge will be wider, improve traffic flow on nearby roads, and raise its vertical clearance over I-95 to 16 feet 6 inches from the current height of 14 feet 3 inches. The original North Avenue bridge opened in 1958 and connects North Avenue, Garden Street, Burling Lane, and Station Plaza North.

Digital message boards have been placed around the work zone to advise drivers and pedestrians about the project. Physical signs have also been installed in the work zone and nearby to alert drivers and pedestrians about the detours.

For additional project information, photos and maps, visit the project page on the Thruway Authority’s website.