Construction Equipment Guide
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Wed November 08, 2000 - Northeast Edition
There is good news for New York State’s construction industry.
The state’s recently approved 2000-2005 Highway and Bridge Capital Improvement Program will support annual construction awards of $1.9 billion statewide, including nearly 4,000 transportation improvement projects.
And, there will be plenty of work to go around.
The $17.1-billion program calls for rehabilitating/replacing 1,000 bridges and resurfacing more than 13,000 lane mi. of pavement around the state. Upgrading the bridges will reduce the percentage of New York’s deficient bridges by nearly one-half from 1989 (40 vs. 22 percent). The plan also will remove load restrictions from more than 100 bridges statewide, making it easier for farmers and others to move their products.
The program will not only provide significant improvements to New York’s roads and bridges, it also will increase safety, improve access to recreational areas and result in 230,000 new jobs across the state. It will be funded by the New York Department of Transportation (NYDOT) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), as well as portions of the proceeds from a $3.8-billion Transportation Bond Act expected to be on the ballot this November for voter approval.
What to Expect
“This plan makes the dream of I-86 a reality, ending a 40-year wait for an interstate along the Southern Tier,” said New York Gov. George E. Pataki. “Whether it is a daily commute to work, vacation trips or business travel, this transportation package will make New York’s infrastructure safer and easier to access all New Yorkers’ transportation needs.”
More than $400 million will be provided to accelerate the designation of 204 mi. of NY Route 17 (Southern Tier Expressway) as Interstate 86, a long-awaited project that will create jobs across the state’s Southern Tier. Previously, 177 mi. of the western portion of the roadway were designated as I-86. Improvements include eliminating at-grade intersections, improving substandard and closely spaced interchanges and making geometric improvements.
The 5-year program also will improve and rehabilitate critical components of the state’s transportation infrastructure, encompassing all transportation modes, including local roads and bridges, transit systems, freight and passenger rail networks, airports, canals, ferry and port facilities.
Officials hope that the integrated transportation program will improve the flow of goods and services, link people and communities and spur economic development.
“Having parity in investments in roads and bridges and mass transit, as well as spending to upgrade airports, rail and port facilities, will help build on New York’s continued economic recovery by making transportation and shipping more efficient and our state more attractive to business,” explained New York Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno.
New York Speaker Sheldon Silver agreed, “New York must continually improve its transportation infrastructure as we strive to create jobs and compete in a 21st-century global economy. Every region in the state will benefit from Buffalo to Brookhaven.”
Key Components
DOT’s $17.1 billion program will include:
• $16.3 billion for state and local highways and bridges. The program will rehabilitate the state’s aging bridges, increase safety and improve pavement conditions. Construction commitments alone are expected to total $9.5 billion during the 5-year period
• $27.1 million for non-MTA systems. Transit systems statewide, which provide essential services, will be improved through major investments in bus fleets, transit centers, commuter rail projects and ferry facilities
• $280 million for improvements to rail and port facilities. Passenger and freight rail facilities will be enhanced with clearance and capacity track projects, intermodal center development and train station improvements
• $113 million to expand and modernize aviation facilities. Improvements will be made in general aviation airports to accommodate corporate aircraft
• $100 million for canal corridor improvements. New York’s historic canal system will be redeveloped into a major transportation and recreational facility. Projects will include: completing the 348-mi. Canalway bike and pedestrian trail; making innovative waterfront and port service enhancements; and preserving and repairing the fundamental infrastructure of the 175-year-old canal system
MTA’s $17.1-billion program includes:
• $17.1 million for the public transit systems of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, including New York City, the Long Island Railroad and the Metro-North Railroad. Rehabilitation and modernization of the bus, subway and commuter rail systems will continue. For the first time in 30 years, the program will advance the design and construction of several major projects to expand the transit network
Other key regional projects that will be funded under the five-year program include:
Capital Region
• $33 million to complete the I-90 connector, creating a new limited access facility extending from the recently completed Exit 8 interchange through the Rensselaer Technology Park to Hudson Valley Community College
• $30 million in passenger rail upgrades
• $30 million in canal improvements
Mohawk Valley
• $45 million to construct the Judd Road Connector, a new highway beginning at the Routes 5, 12 (North-South Arterial)/Route 8 interchange and ending at the Judd Road/Halsey Road intersection for 3.8 mi. in Oneida County. The project includes constructing four lanes of highway from Routes 5, 8 and 12 to the Judd Road/Halsey Road intersection, three structures, two interchanges and widening Route 5A
• $12 million in canal improvements
• $5 million to renovate the Utica and Rome transit and train facilities as well as upgrade Oneida County Airport
North Country
• $18 million for the North Country border crossing projects in Clinton, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties
• More than $10 million to help North Country airports upgrade their capital facilities
Central New York
• $17.5 million to improve four mi. of roadway on Route 281 in the Town of Cortlandville and the City of Cortland
• More than $20 million in canal initiatives, including $3.8 million to enhance public access to the Syracuse Inner Harbor
• $8.5 million in capital assistance for the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority
Rochester/Genesee Valley
• $36 million to improve I-390 by reconstructing the pavement and bridges and addressing traffic operation issues in Monroe County
• $3 million to construct a new ferry terminal in Rochester
• Nearly $10 million to construct a new transit center for the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority
Western New York
• $150 million to begin the major expansion and upgrading of the US Route 219 transportation corridor from the Village of Springville in Erie County to the City of Salamanca in Cattaraugus County
• $10 million to replace the CP Drawbridge currently locked in the upright position. Funding will provide for constructing a new bridge and associated track realignments across the Buffalo River, adjacent to CSX’s existing drawbridge
Southern Tier
• $8 million to upgrade NYS Route 17, Exits 48-52, including shoulder, guide rail and signage in Chemung County
• $15 million for at-grade intersection removal and construction of a new interchange between Exits 49-51, Airport Area in Chemung County
• $85 million for at-grade intersection removal at Exits 52-54, Horseheads Bypass in Chemung County
• $8 million for bridge replacements on Exits 56-57, Church and Water Streets in Chemung County
• $53 million to upgrade Route 17, Exits 56-59, Route 17 access with at-grade intersection removal and signage in Chemung County
• $1 million for off-ramp reconstruction, right-of-way fencing and signage at Exits 64 and 66
• $93 million for reconstruction of I-86/I-99 interchange and Hamilton Street interchange in Steuben County
• $11 million for interchange reconstruction at I-81/Route 17, Prospect Mountain Curve, Phase 1 in Broome County
• $2 million to upgrade Route 17, Exits 66-72, shoulders, guide rail and signage in Broome County
• $2 million to upgrade Route 17, Exits 79-84, shoulders, guide rail and signage in Broome and Delaware Counties
• $12 million for design and right-of-way phases for at-grade intersection removal and signage at Exits 84-87, Hale Eddy to Hancock in Delaware County
• $35 million for at-grade intersection removal at Exit 97 to Parksville, Parksville Bypass, Sullivan County
• $7.4 million to provide a new rest area on Interstate 81 near Whitney Point, Broome County
• $13.2 million to reconstruct the Route 21 traffic circle, Broome County
• $5.8 million to replace the deteriorated concrete surface on Route 12 in the Village of Greene with a smooth, asphalt riding surface. This project also will provide intersection and sight distance improvements and reconstruct Route 41 in the village proper, Chenango County
• 5.7 million to rehabilitate Route 10 between Hobart and the Schoharie County line, including sidewalks, curbing and drainage work
• $6.1 million to rehabilitate Route 28 in the Village of Andes by restoring the pavement and providing a new riding surface
• $2.6 million to provide a new asphalt riding surface along Routes 7 and 23, Chestnut and Oneida Streets, Otsego County
• $0.9 million to return the existing masonry guide railing (stone wall) to its original condition and reconstruct the roadway on Route 30 in the Village of Middleburg, Schoharie County
• $9 million to rehabilitate Route 52 through the Village of Liberty, Sullivan County. It will include widening the road, providing safety improvements, relocating intersections and providing sidewalks and curbing
• $4.8 million to replace the existing structure over the Genesee River in the Town of Amity, Allegany County
• $5.3 million to replace two structures over the Norfolk-Southern Railroad and Post Creek, as well as realignment of the highway, Chemung County
• $6.1 million to replace two existing structures over Seeley and South Creeks, Chemung County
• $1.6 million to replace the existing structure carrying Route 227 over Spring Brook in the Town of Hector, Schuyler County
• $9 million to rehabilitate six miles of I-390 from Antlers to Wallace, Steuben County
• $4.4 million to replace existing structure carrying Route 96 over Catatonk Creek, Tioga County
• $10.5 million to replace the existing structure over Route 17 and the Susquehanna River in the Village of Owego, Tioga County
• $1.3 million to replace the existing structure carrying Route 245 over West River in the Town of Middlesex, Yates County
Hudson Valley
• $250 million to upgrade the Cross Westchester Expressway (I-287) providing safety and operational improvements for the entire length of the Tappan Zee toll barrier to the I-684 interchange
• $40 million to provide a new interchange connecting Interstates 84 and 87 in Orange County
Long Island
• $1.5 billion for the East Side Access Project, which will provide a new rail link to Grand Central Terminal on the east side of Manhattan. Funds are provided to begin construction of the tunnels in Queens and Manhattan that will connect the LIRR to the 63rd Street Tunnel
• $88.5 million to replace the Rosalyn Viaduct, a 50-year-old viaduct, with a modern structure
• $57.2 million to replace the Robert Moses Causeway Northbound Bridge Replacement over Great South Bay. This is the companion project to construction currently being completed on the older, southbound bridge. The bridge deck and portions supporting the structure will be replaced on the northbound bridge
• $50 million to eliminate at-grade intersections along the Long Island Railroad mainline
New York City
• $1.05 billion to initiate construction of a full-length Second Avenue Subway
• $30 million for East of Hudson Clearance Initiative, which will provide infrastructure improvements
A complete listing of projects included in New York State’s 5-year transportation plan can be accessed through the State of New York’s Web site at www. state.ny.us.