The New York State Department of Transportation officially debuted its brand-new maintenance complex in Vestal on March 25, which is aimed at enhancing NYSDOT operations throughout Broome County.
The $13.4 million complex replaces a 1960s-era facility along state Route 26 in Vestal.
The 15,000-square-foot building will enable NYSDOT to better respond to severe weather and enhance traveler safety in Broome County, according to a NYSDOT release, as the facility will allow “crews and equipment to stay on the job longer and facilitate more efficient operations and speedier responses to emergency situations.”
“This new facility in Vestal will ensure that our team has the support they need to maintain and operate our state highway transportation network year-round, and it will keep our plows and emergency response vehicles ready to go when severe weather strikes and New Yorkers need them the most,” NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said.
The facility was funded through NYSDOT’s $34 million, five-year capital program and constructed as a joint project by the NYSDOT and the State Office of General Services.
Here’s what to know about the new facility and how it will serve Broome County, according to DOT.
What’s featured at the new NYSDOT complex in Vestal
The Vestal complex will serve as the operational hub for the towns of Vestal, Union, Maine, Nanticoke, and Dickinson, along with the villages of Endicott and Johnson City and the City of Binghamton.
One key element of the facility includes a heated garage with eight service bays, which will allow large dump trucks and other highway maintenance equipment to be stored inside.
The facility will also house a brine production and storage facility, the release states, with a holding capacity of 46,000 gallons to “support winter operations across Tioga and western Broome counties.”
Office space and training space will make up 3,500 square feet of the building, allowing for OSHA safety training, CPR certification, flagger instruction and other instruction activities.
New locker rooms with showers have been installed as well, specifically designed for employees working long hours.
The entire facility was constructed with energy-efficient systems, according to the release, like HVAC, radiant floor heat and LED lighting, in order to “improve sustainability and reduce long-term operating costs.”
“This new maintenance complex in Vestal is a major investment in the safety and reliability of our regional transportation network,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garner.
“By giving NYSDOT crews the modern tools and space they need, we’re improving response times during severe weather and ensuring our roads remain safe for residents and visitors across Broome County.”
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: How new $13.4 million NYSDOT complex in Vestal enhances efficiency, safety
Reporting by Sunshyne Lynch, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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