Project to replace Townline Road bridge over Thruway starts

DeWITT, N.Y. — Drivers who use Townline Road on their daily commute will need to get accustomed to taking a detour for the next few months. Crews have started work on a $7.5 million bridge-replacement project along Townline Road in the town of DeWitt in Onondaga County. The effort seeks to replace the bridge with a “modern structure,” the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced March 28. About 12,400 vehicles travel over the bridge per day. The current bridge was built in 1953 and carries Townline Road over the New York State Thruway (I-90). The Townline Road bridge is now closed to traffic for the duration of the project. A 3.8-mile signed detour is now in place. “The Thruway Authority is committed to investing in its aging infrastructure and enhancing the safety and reliability of the Thruway system,” Frank Hoare, executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority, said in the announcement. “Our Capital Program is focused on modernizing our transportation system and maintaining some of the lowest and most affordable toll rates in the nation.” Tioga Construction Company, Inc., of Herkimer, is the project contractor, following a competitive bidding process. Construction is expected to wrap up this fall. The work is weather dependent and subject to change. Motorists are urged to be alert and follow the posted work-zone speed limits. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Crews will replace the existing structure with a new bridge that includes increased vertical clearances for travelers along I-90. The clearance on the eastbound lanes will be increased from 14 feet, 3 inches to 16 feet, 7 inches, and the clearance on the westbound lanes will be increased from 14 feet, 9 inches to 17 feet, 3 inches to mitigate bridge strikes caused by over-height vehicles and enhance safety for Thruway Authority employees and motorists, the announcement noted. Additional safety upgrades will include full-depth pavement reconstruction of the approaches on Townline Road over I-90; reconstruction of the shoulders of I-90 under the bridge; a new safety guiderail, as well as the installation of a snow fence to prevent blowing snow; along with a pedestrian sidewalk and several drainage structures along Townline Road. Drivers may encounter traffic slowdowns or stoppages on the Thruway during construction. Variable message signs will advise motorists of the construction work and detour information. To “further enhance” safety for workers in a work zone, Hochul signed legislation establishing a pilot program focused on automated work zone speed enforcement. The safety-enforcement program began in April 2023 and is in effect in various active construction zones on the Thruway. Work zones with speed-camera enforcement will have clear signage leading up to it, and drivers who violate the posted speed limit within the work zone will be fined.

Detour details

The south side of Townline Road is closed at Factory Avenue. Eastbound traffic on Factory Avenue is detoured south to Military Circle. Northbound traffic on Townline Road is detoured west on Factory Avenue. The north side of Townline Road is closed at Vincent Drive with northbound and southbound traffic detoured east on East Molloy Road. Eastbound and westbound traffic on East Molloy Road will not be affected by the detour.