New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $17 million project to replace a bridge carrying state Route 17 over state Route 17K in the Town of Wallkill has begun.
The construction site is located near Orange County’s border with Sullivan County.
The project will replace the existing 68-year-old bridge with a new, single-span structure that will enhance safety and resiliency along what Hochul called a critical transportation corridor serving one of the fastest-growing regions of the state.
“New Yorkers deserve quality roads and bridges to get where they need to go safely and efficiently, and that is exactly what we are delivering with this project,” Hochul said in a statement. “By replacing this aging bridge along state Route 17, we will ensure continued smooth travel along one of the most important transportation corridors in the state to further fuel the economic boom we are seeing throughout the Catskills.”
The new bridge will have 16 feet, 8 inches of clearance space above Route 17K, which is two feet higher than the original structure. That will meet the latest interstate standards and reduce the potential for bridge strikes by oversize vehicles.
The new span will feature jointless bridge decks to reduce noise pollution and long-term maintenance costs, and create a smoother riding surface.
Traffic impacted by Route 17 bridge work
While construction is underway, drivers should expect lane shifts and limited daily lane closures. Work is expected to be completed in late 2027.
Marie Therese Dominguez, the state Department of Transportation commissioner, said in a statement that the project “is utilizing cutting-edge design techniques that will help us get the job done faster and deliver a safer, more resilient structure that will keep travelers on the move through this beautiful, fast-growing part of the state.”
She said Route 17 is a heavily traveled artery that ties together the Mid-Hudson, Catskills and Southern Tier regions of the state.
“From the Bronx to Buffalo, New York State continues to find innovative ways to build back our infrastructure to better serve New Yorkers and meet the challenges of the 21st Century,” Dominguez said in her statement.
Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: $17 million replacement of this Route 17 bridge has started in NY
Reporting by Mike Randall, Middletown Times Herald- Record / Times Herald-Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
