Governor Cuomo Announces Suspension of Most Construction-Related Lane Closures to Ease Travel During Holiday Weekends

LongIsland.com

Governor Cuomo 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 Thursday, December 24, to 6 a.m. on Monday, ...

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Many temporary lane closures will be suspended to help ease holiday travel.

Photo by: Governor's Press Office.

Albany, NY - December 23, 2015 - Governor Cuomo 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 Thursday, December 24, to 6 a.m. on Monday, December 28. Lane closures also will not be permitted from 6 a.m. on Thursday, December 31 to 6 a.m. on Monday, January 4. The lane closure restrictions have been put in place to accommodate motorists traveling for the holiday weekends. Some work may continue behind permanent concrete barriers or for emergency repairs.

"Once again we are putting Drivers First this busy holiday season to better ensure motorists will be able to get where they need to go without unnecessary congestion and delay," Governor Cuomo said. "I encourage all New Yorkers to stay safe, keep your eyes on the road and have a very happy holiday."

The prohibition of non-essential lane closures 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.

AAA predicts that the number of people traveling more than 50 miles from home this holiday season will top 100 million for the first time in history. That represents a 1.4 percent increase over last year and the seventh consecutive year of year-end holiday travel growth.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll said, "A record number of people will be traveling on New York State to visit family and friends to celebrate the holidays. Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s Drivers First initiative, construction-related travel delays will not be a concern. We urge motorists to check 511NY before traveling and wish everyone a very happy holiday."

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 online.

The days preceding the Christmas holiday are among the busiest on the Thruway. The Thruway is prepared to handle the additional traffic volume. Travelers are encouraged to sign-up for TRANSalerts to receive real-time traffic alerts or follow @ThruwayTraffic on Twitter.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels will suspend all construction requiring temporary lane closures at our seven bridges and two tunnels in New York City from 1 p.m. Christmas Eve through Christmas Day, and again from 1 p.m. New Year's Eve through New Year's Day.

Travelers are reminded 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 updated, 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 @NYSDOT on Twitter.