Work begins on Oriskany Thruway bridge-replacement project

WHITESBORO, N.Y. — A $9.3 million project to replace the New York State Thruway bridge over Oriskany Boulevard in Whitesboro is underway, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.

The 150-foot-long bridge — located at milepost 238.22 between exits 31 and 32 — first opened in 1955 and is among the 75 percent of Thruway bridges that are more than 60 years old. More than 23,000 vehicles travel the bridge each day in both directions, the state says.

New York State plans to complete the project in three stages to limit disruptions to traffic on the Thruway and Oriskany Boulevard. A traffic shift will be used to maintain two travel lanes in both directions on the Thruway and a minimum of one lane of traffic will remain open in each direction on Oriskany Boulevard.

The first stage includes preparing the median-crossover areas leading up to and just after the bridge so construction can begin in 2025.

Next spring, all westbound Thruway traffic will shift onto the eastbound structure so the westbound side can be removed and rebuilt. Traffic will shift back to its original configuration for the winter of 2025 into 2026.

In the spring of 2026, traffic will shift onto the new westbound span while the eastbound bridge is removed and replaced. The state expects to complete the project in the fall of 2026.

The new bridge girders and other structural-steel components will be metalized, which coats the steel to prevent rust and corrosion.

Tioga Construction in Herkimer is the project contractor, following a competitive bidding process, according to the state.

Built in the early 1950s, the Gov. Thomas E. Dewey Thruway is one of the oldest roads in the National Interstate Highway System and one of the longest toll roads in the nation. The Thruway Authority’s 2024 budget includes $451 million in support of its capital program, which is expected to invest $2.4 billion into capital projects over the next five years.

“New York state remains committed to developing a modern and resilient infrastructure system that aims to improve the quality of life for residents and travelers alike,” Hochul said in in a statement. “The Thruway Authority’s investments throughout the state are focused towards modernizing and enhancing the 70-year-old Thruway system, as well as job creation and boosting local economies that depend on safe, reliable roads to reach their destinations.”