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New York State Thruway Authority
Interchange 8 Reconstruction Project

Visit this project's official website: click here
Get this project's update bi-weekly via email: click here

For Information Contact:
Greg Kisloff, Public Information, (914) 592-3643
Charles Johnson, Engineer in Charge, (914) 347-6606

Elmsford, NY: The New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) announced that during the week of
October 6th, bridge, ramp, road and tollbooth work continues at the Interchange 8 Reconstruction Project, this is a joint project with the New York State Department of Transportation.

Yom Kippur holiday restrictions:
- No lane closures, traffic stoppages or other operations interfering with the flow of traffic are scheduled from noon to midnight, Sunday, October 5 and Monday, October 6, and project work is limited to behind construction barriers from noon to 4p.m. Monday, October 6.

Columbus Day holiday restrictions:
- No lane closures, traffic stoppages or other operations interfering with the flow of traffic are scheduled from 6a.m. to 5p.m., Friday, October 10, and from 6a.m. to
10a.m., Tuesday, October 14, and project work is limited to behind construction barriers from 6a.m. to 5p.m., Friday, October 10, and from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., Tuesday, October 14.
- Trucks will be allowed to exit the eastbound merge lane cut by merging into the northbound connector shoulder, exiting the adjacent excavation area via the same route. In addition, trucks will be able to access the northbound reconstruction area via the northbound entrance ramp at Interchange 9, exiting through the work zone into the Route 9/Route 119 intersection.
- No truck deliveries or material removal in or out of permanent lane closures are allowed during these either of these holiday periods.

Rock blasting continues at the following locations:
- Between Exit 9 and the Broadway Bridge creating area for new I-87 northbound auxiliary lane bound for the Tappan Zee Bridge.
- Adjacent to I-287 west, approaching Interchange 8 facilitating construction of the new roadway linking I-287 west with I-87 south.
* Federal regulations require that traffic be stopped in both directions during rock blasting. Regularly scheduled blasting takes place Monday to Thursday, with required stoppages up to 20 minutes in both directions along
I-87/I-287 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Blast times are announced on these radio stations:
- NYSTA’s Highway Advisory Radio Station 530 AM
- 1610 AM, Newburgh

Motorists should proceed with caution through the following construction areas:
- Tappan Zee Bridge Toll Plaza, Lane 1. Construction on toll lane 1 is slated to begin the week of October 20th. Located on the extreme right side of the toll plaza, this is the last of 12 toll lanes to be installed. Motorists bound for Exit 9 en route to Broadway (Route 9) in
Tarrytown are advised to stay to the extreme right side of the toll plaza.
- Adjacent to Van Wart Avenue. Clearing for landscape installation takes place between Van Wart Ave. and noise barrier walls, with periodic lane closures and traffic stoppages.
- Route 9 Broadway and Route 119. Excavation concludes during day shifts after rush-hour for gas main installation, with one lane closed to facilitate the work.
- I-87 southbound, toll plaza to Exit 8. A shift of southbound traffic to the extreme right side of the roadway along with the Interchange 9 exit lane against the noise barrier wall remains as does a new northbound pattern placing traffic adjacent to southbound lanes.
- Interchange 9, I-87 southbound, entrance/exit ramps leading to Route 9. Asphalt paving, sidewalk and curb installation continue, with no impact to traffic.
- Interchange 9, I-87 northbound, entrance and exit ramps leading to Route 119. A traffic switch during the day-shift Tuesday moves ramp traffic to the extreme left onto the newly constructed roadway, making way for a new construction zone on the right side. Asphalt paving continues with periodic traffic stoppages and alternating lane closures.
- I-87 north and southbound, between Exit 8 and 9. Construction in the median and sign installation continues during overnight operations, with lane closures and traffic stoppages. Daytime asphalt work requires periodic lane closures. Sign installation later in the week will necessitate traffic stoppages north and southbound, during overnight shifts.
- I-87 northbound, Meadow Street to the Tappan Zee Bridge approach. A new traffic pattern remains, with northbound traffic returning to the right, prior to the approach of the area adjacent to the toll plaza.
- I-87 southbound to I-287 eastbound. Exiting traffic lanes remain in construction, while excavation continues on the left side. Motorists should use caution through this area.
- I-287 Bridge over Route 119. Installation of bracing diaphragms beneath the bridge continues along with concrete deck placement during day shifts with periodic, off-peak single-lane closures along Route 119. One lane of traffic is maintained in both directions.
- Taxter Road Bridge over I-87. Work continues, with no expected traffic impact.
- Exit ramp from I-287 westbound to Route 119. Westbound vehicles merge with new ramp traffic from southbound SMRP to Route 119. Westbound traffic is routed around the existing ramp. Motorists should watch for merging traffic on this ramp exiting from the new Exit 22 off the southbound SMRP.
- Entrance ramp leading from Route 119 onto I-287 westbound. Ramp remains closed with motorists detoured to entrance ramps at Interchange 9, leading to I-87 north/southbound.
- West of the existing bridge linking I-287 westbound with I-87 southbound. A new traffic pattern remains, placing traffic on the new bridge.
- Northbound I-87 / I-287 Merger. Construction of new bridge decking continues at the I-87 northbound ramp over the I-287 closed median area.
- Exit ramp, from I-87 north to I-287 east. A recent traffic switch places traffic on its new ramp. Motorists are urged to use caution through this construction area.
- I-287 westbound, between SMRP and Exit 1. Paving adjacent to the center median continues, as three lanes of westbound traffic remain shifted to the extreme right side.
- West of the ramp from SMRP south to I-287 west. Traffic configuration remains with minor adjustments. Southbound SMRP motorists previously accessing I-87 north from I-287 west use the new ramp leading to Route 119, facilitating a local detour to Interchange 9 to I-87 north. Southbound SMRP motorists bound for I-87 south will use Exit 4 to the Cross County Parkway, exiting at Interchange 4S (south) to I-87 south. Motorists are urged to watch for merging traffic on the ramp exiting from Interchange 1 of westbound I-287.

Should inclement weather or other factors prevent work from being performed as scheduled the work and associated traffic restrictions will be rescheduled. For the safety of the public and construction workers, motorists are urged to proceed with caution and obey posted work-zone speed limits.

The $187 million project to reconstruct the I-287/87 interchange (Interchange 8) from the Tappan Zee
Bridge toll plaza to the Saw Mill River Parkway on the Cross Westchester Expressway is designed to
improve mobility, provide more reliable service, increase safety and add convenience for motorists.

In addition to reconfiguration of Interchange 8 and the reconstruction of the Tappan Zee Bridge toll plaza, reconstruction of the I-287/87 interchange will create three through-lanes of I-287 traffic to be linked with I-87 in both directions.

The primary construction contractor for the project is Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc.

Scheduled traffic information is available at:
Phone: (877) ABOUT-I8 (877-226-8848)
Web: www.About-I8.com

- Stage 2 Weekly Project Update -

The New York State Department of Transportation
(NYSDOT) Region 8 Office provides this update for it's Stage 2 Project I-287 project between Exits 2 and 5.

For Information Contact:
Kerril Hynes, Engineer-in-Charge, (914) 997-0835

Stage 2 Project on I-287 - Weekly Press Release
The New York State Department of Transportation has begun construction on its contract D258972
(I-287 - Stage 2). The completion of the project is scheduled for November 2004.

The contract includes the reconstruction of the pavement on I-287 (Cross Westchester Express-way) between Exits 2 and 5, and the addition of auxiliary lanes to aid traffic flow between exits 3 and 5.

Also included in the project is the replacement of the bridges that carry I-287 over Route 9A, the Catskill Aqueduct (east of Exit 3) and Manhattan Avenue. The two bridges that carry the Sprain Brook Parkway (Northbound and Southbound) over I-287 will be rehabilitated. Both the Winthrop Avenue Bridge and the Knollwood Road (Route 100A) bridge, over I-287, will be replaced.

Finally, the ramps from the northbound Sprain Brook Parkway to eastbound I-287 and westbound I-287 to the
Sprain Brook Parkway will be rehabilitated. There will also be noise walls and retaining walls built in conjunction with the roadway construction.

The following construction activities will take place October 7th to October 13th

- Pier reconstruction of the Sprain Brook Parkway
(NB & SB) behind concrete barrier on mainline I-287,
Repair of Pier Caps continues along with bearing replacement. Structural lifting operations continue at various locations this week.
- Reconstruction of NB Sprain Brook Parkway over I-287, right lane permanently closed. Deck overlay placement behind barrier to be complete this week.
- Reconstruction of SB Sprain Brook Parkway over I-287, left lane permanently closed.
- Bridge reconstruction of mainline I-287 bridges (I-287 over Manhattan Ave., I-287 over Catskill Aqueduct behind concrete barrier.)
- Reconstruction of Knollwood Road (100A) over I-287, bridge reduced from 2 lanes each direction to 1 lane with turning lanes. Approach paving to start this week.
- Northbound Sprain Brook Parkway ramp to eastbound I-287 being reconstructed - Shoulders closed
with concrete barrier. Second Stage reconstruction underway.
- Winthrop Avenue over I-287-One-way traffic controlled by traffic signal. Oil-o-static line relocation begins this week.
- I-287 over Route 9A bridge work is continuing this week, Retaining wall post drilling for West side continues.
- Asphalt paving operations behind concrete barrier on Eastbound direction continues between Exits 4 to 5.
- Eastbound I-287 Offramp (Exit 3) to Sprain Brook Parkway - Construction of new retaining wall continues.

The associated impacts to traffic are as follows:

I-287 Night Lane Closures:
Monday: double-lane closure from 12am to 6am Tuesday thru Thursday: MP 0.7 to 2.4 east directions of I-287; one left lane closed starting at 8pm, middle lane closed at 11pm until 6 am.
Westbound direction of I-287, one left lane closed starting at 9pm, middle lane closed at 10pm until
6am.

Sprain Brook Parkway Lane Closures:
- Southbound Sprain Brook Parkway over I-287, left lane is permanently closed.
- Northbound Sprain Brook Parkway over I-287, right lane is permanently closed.
- Temporary daytime lane closures from 9am to 3pm for concrete prep work and concrete placement.