Albany, NY - December 21, 2016 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that temporary lane closures associated with road and bridge construction projects on New York State highways will not be permitted from 6 a.m. on Friday, December 23, to 6 a.m. on Tuesday, December 27, and again from 6 a.m. on Friday, December 30, to 6 a.m. on Tuesday, January 3 in order to accommodate motorists during the busy year-end holiday travel weekends. Some work may continue behind permanent concrete barriers or for emergency repairs.
"We're putting Drivers First and taking action to limit delays and inconveniences on our roadways during this busy holiday season," Governor Cuomo said. "We're doing everything in our power to help New Yorkers get where they need to go as quickly and with the least amount of aggravation possible."
Ensuring that more lanes remain open is in keeping with Governor Cuomo’s Drivers First program, which prioritizes the convenience of motorists to minimize traffic congestion and travel delays due to road and bridge work.
During these busy travel weekends, motorists are reminded of New York’s critically important "Move Over" law, which requires drivers to use due care, slow down and safely move over when they see flashing lights on the side of the road.
AAA predicts that more than 103 million people will travel more than 50 miles from home during the year-end holiday season – the most on record. The vast majority of those travelers – 93.6 million people – will be driving. The year-end travel period runs from Friday, December 23, 2016 to Monday, January 2, 2017.
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll said, "The holiday season is a busy time of year, a time that shouldn’t include being stuck in traffic caused by road construction. I appreciate Governor Cuomo’s commitment to getting people safely and efficiently across New York State and join with him in wishing all New Yorkers a happy holiday season."
Thruway Authority Acting Executive Director Bill Finch said, "Tens of thousands of people will be traveling on the New York State Thruway to visit with family and friends during the holidays. Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s Drivers First initiative, motorists will be able to reach their destinations without unnecessary construction congestion. We urge drivers to stay alert and enjoy a safe and happy holiday season."
This year, the New York State Thruway Authority will continue its 46-year tradition of offering free coffee and hot tea to travelers at all 27 travel plazas along the Thruway on New Year’s Eve and into New Year’s morning to promote safe and alert driving.
There will be slight variations for certain Thruway projects based on previous traffic volume. A detailed schedule of Thruway lane closures throughout the holiday weekend is available here.
Thruway travelers are encouraged to sign-up for TRANSalerts to receive real-time traffic alerts or follow @ThruwayTraffic on Twitter.
Travelers are encouraged to check 511NY by calling 511 or by accessing
www.511ny.org before departing. The free service allows users to check road conditions or link to air and transit information.
Mobile users can download the free 511NY mobile app from the iTunes or Google Play stores. The app now features Drive mode, which provides audible alerts along a chosen route while a user is driving, warning them about incidents and construction. Users can set a destination prior to departing and receive information on up to three routes.
Find NYSDOT on Facebook and follow Twitter.
