'Steel' Yourself For Delays As I-95 Bridge Work Enters New Phase

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The good news is that work on the North Ave. Bridge is progressing; the bad news is that the progress on the massive bridge replacement project will likely mean slower progress on the drive home for the next few weeks.

The NYS Thruway Authority announced a new phase of the North Ave. Bridge replacement project with steel installation over the New England Thruway (I-95) in New Rochelle is scheduled to begin Monday night. It will take place in phases over the next six weeks, during the day and/or at night. The overnight work will require multiple lane closures and traffic stops on I-95 and North Ave.

To lessen the impacts on traffic, both on I-95 and within New Rochelle, the upcoming installation of the superstructure will be completed at night. This will allow for the safety of the project’s workers and drivers.

Steel installation on the south side of the bridge (near Burling Lane) will take place on weeknights, beginning June 17, and last approximately two weeks. Crews will resume nighttime steel activities soon after the July 4th holiday weekend on the north side of the bridge (near Garden Street).

During the upcoming overnight work:

• The two left lanes in each direction on I-95 will be closed on weeknights, as early as 10 p.m. with full reopening by 5 a.m.
• North Ave. will transition to a one-way alternating traffic pattern after 11 p.m. to no later than 5 a.m.
• Multiple traffic stops lasting up to 20 minutes will take place simultaneously on I-95 and North Ave. to allow two cranes to safely lift the 130-foot-long steel girders, and other large steel parts from trucks located in the closed lane on North Ave.

New Rochelle police and certified flaggers will be on hand to direct drivers.

Drivers are urged to take alternate routes around the work zone to avoid delays after 9 p.m. on work nights.

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

The North Ave. bridge first opened in 1958 and connects North Ave., Garden St., Burling Lane, and Station Plaza North. An estimated 7.3 million vehicles travel the bridge annually.

When the $31.8 million bridge replacement project is completed in 2025, the new 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 project began in January 2023, with most of the construction taking place during the day. The three-year, three-stage project is currently in its first stage, which allows for two lanes of traffic in the center of the existing bridge while its outermost components are removed and new foundations are built, while still maintaining access to downtown New Rochelle.

• Stage 1 (current stage) includes the construction of new substructures, erection of steel and placement of concrete decks.
• Stage 2 will move vehicles to two lanes on the new outer bridge sections so the remaining parts of the old bridge can be removed and rebuilt.
• Stage 3 will move vehicles onto the new five-lane bridge so sidewalks, paving, decorative lighting, and other work can be completed. Burling Lane will be converted to a one-way road for westbound traffic during this stage.

Since March 2023, a new traffic pattern has been in place to allow cars, buses, and other vehicles with three axles or less to use two lanes in the center of the bridge. Left turns from North Ave. to Garden St. remain prohibited, as are left turns from Garden St. to North Ave. Due to space constraints, trucks with four or more axles are not allowed in the construction zone. A signed truck detour is in place.

Summary of traffic flow during Stage 1:

• First responders, cars, buses, delivery trucks, and vehicles with three axles or less have access to the bridge at all times.
• Burling Lane between North Ave. and May St. will remain closed for the duration of the project.
• The left-turn lane on Station Plaza North is part of the work zone; two lanes remain open to traffic and drivers can continue to turn left onto North Ave.
• Pedestrian/bicycle traffic should use the walkway over I-95 connecting at Burling Lane and the train station throughout the project.
• All local businesses remain accessible. Working closely with New Rochelle officials, Thruway Authority engineers determined the North Ave. bridge should be replaced in three stages to maintain access to the heart of the city while minimizing impacts to residents, businesses, and motorists.

The bridge replacement project's contractor is J. D’Annunzio & Sons, Inc.

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

Drivers should follow posted work zone speed limits and are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. According to the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual's driver license.

The public can check the Thruway Authority’s Facebook and X accounts for the latest travel advisories. Drivers are also urged to download the Thruway Authority’s mobile app which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides drivers with real-time traffic information, live traffic cameras and navigation assistance. Travelers can also visit the Thruway Authority's interactive Traveler Map featuring live traffic cameras. Drivers can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails, which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway.

SEE ALSO:

• Traffic Alert: I-95 North Ave. Bridge Demolition Begins
• $61.8M I-95 Roadwork Project To Take Place This Summer And Beyond
• New North Ave Bridge Traffic Pattern Starts This Week In New Rochelle
• $31.8M North Ave. Bridge Project Over I-95 In New Rochelle Kicks Off