Governor Kathy Hochul announced the completion of a $44.6 million pavement improvement project on the New York State Thruway I-87 in a busy corridor spanning Rockland and Orange counties used by approximately 92,000 vehicles every day. Overseen by the Thruway Authority, the work covered nearly 10 miles between exit 15, New Jersey – I-287 – NJ Route 17 South, in the Town of Ramapo in western Rockland County to the Town of Tuxedo in southern Orange County.
“This stretch of the Thruway is a critical corridor bringing New Yorkers through the Hudson Valley, and these investments in our infrastructure are essential to the people who rely on it every day,” Governor Hochul said. “New York State continues to revitalize its infrastructure to provide motorists and commercial vehicles alike with a reliable roadway for generations to come.”
Starting last May, Yonkers Contracting Company, the project contractor, conducted full-depth pavement repairs, meaning crews removed and replaced the most deteriorated portions on a nearly 10-mile stretch of roadway (from milepost 29.4 to 38.7) in both directions, covering approximately 60 total lane miles and improving the structural integrity of the roadway. Crews installed a new two-course asphalt overlay to provide a smoother ride for motorists, installed new guiderails, and upgraded drainage systems and culverts.
Thruway Authority Acting Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said, “Tens of millions of vehicles travel this section of our entire system annually—for work, commerce and leisure—and these improvements will make the driving experience that much easier for those using the Thruway or connecting to Interstate 287 or Route 17 in New Jersey. Lower Hudson Valley residents and visitors will benefit from this investment for years.”
The Authority’s approved 2024 Budget invests a total of $451 million to support its Capital Program, which is scheduled to invest $2.4 billion into capital projects over the next five years—a $500 million increase compared to the 2023 Budget. In 2022, motorists took more than 376 million trips and drove 7.7 billion miles on the Thruway system.
State Senator James Skoufis said, “Orange County commuters deserve dependable roadway infrastructure they can feel good about that doesn’t pose risks to their safety or their vehicles. I applaud the Thruway Authority’s completion of this $44.6 million resurfacing and safety enhancement project along I-87 before the holiday travel season gets underway.”
