Crews to build new I-690 eastbound on-ramp at State Fairgrounds once current Fair ends

GEDDES, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) will construct a new Interstate 690 (I-690) eastbound on-ramp bridge, “ensuring that a temporary traffic signal on the highway will not be required during the State Fair after 2019.”

The office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo says it’s the $11.18 million second phase of the orange lot project at the New York State Fairgrounds. The DOT’s work will begin once the 2019 State Fair concludes, per a Wednesday news release.

Cuomo announced the second phase during his Wednesday appearance to officially open the Fair. Preparatory work on the project has already begun, his office said.

The new I-690 eastbound on-ramp bridge will also accommodate pedestrians with a 10-foot pedestrian walkway that will help ease pedestrian traffic to and from the orange lot. Crews will complete construction in time for the 2020 State Fair, Cuomo’s office stated.

Project history

Construction began on the $27 million first phase of the State Fair’s 65-acre orange lot in October 2017, with parts of the lot open in time for last summer’s concert season at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview.

The DOT completed the first phase of the orange lot in time for the 2018 State Fair. The orange lot has more than 7,000 paved parking spaces, up from the 4,000 to 5,000 that were available on the previous dirt surface, Cuomo’s office said.

A new exit ramp to Interstate 690 west from the western end of the orange lot now allows fairgoers direct access to I-690 from the State Fair and amphitheater. Prior to the opening of this ramp, vehicles could only exit the orange lot from the Exit 7 area of I-690 during events scheduled outside of the Fair.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com