$68 million Phase II of I-390/I-490/Rte. 31 improvement project completed

Gates, NY According to governor Andrew Cuomo, construction work on the $68 million second phase of the ongoing I-390/I-490/Rte. 31 Interchange Improvement Project in Monroe County, is now complete. Construction this year consisted of work to rehabilitate the structures carrying Rte. 390 over the Erie Canal, the creation of a new on-ramp to Rte. 390 north from Lyell Ave. (Rte. 31) and the widening and paving of travel lanes along the interchange. Additionally, new concrete sound barriers were installed featuring historic imagery of the Erie Canal’s role in the state’s transportation system.

“New York State continues to make smart infrastructure investments in Rochester and across upstate, helping spur economic activity and facilitating safe and reliable access on our transportation systems,” Cuomo said. “Once complete, the entire I-390/I-490 project will be a game changer for Monroe County and will continue the enormous momentum under our Finger Lakes Forward initiative.”

The multi-phase project is part of a series of infrastructure investments strategically aimed at easing access and improving traffic flow along Rte. 31, Rte. 390, and the I-390/I-490 Interchange in Monroe County. This corridor connects 200,000 daily motorists to centers of economic activity, such as the Greater Rochester International Airport–which completed an $80 million transformation in late 2018–the Rochester Technology Park, the Eastman Business Park and downtown Rochester.

Last September, governor Cuomo unveiled the completion of Phase I of the ongoing I-390/I-490 Interchange project, which began in 2016. Since that time, the new bridge carrying Rte. 390 over Trolley Blvd. was also completed as part of Phase II and the road underneath the bridge re-opened to traffic following an extended closure during construction. Construction activities in 2018 also included the construction of two new ramps from I-390 and I-490 to access Lyell Ave., enhancing mobility at the interchange.

This section of the project was constructed with governor Cuomo’s Drivers’ First Initiative in mind, aiming to minimize construction impacts to the travelling public. Motorists along Rte. 390 had access to two lanes of traffic in each direction using lane shifts on the bridges carrying Rte. 390 over the Erie Canal during the 2019 construction season.

The two bridges carrying Rte. 390 over the Erie Canal were significantly rehabilitated this past summer, including the installation of new fascia girders, bearings and a full deck replacement. The northbound bridge was also widened and received repairs to the existing abutments and wingwalls. The structural steel on both bridges received a fresh coat of rust-prohibitive paint.

Department of Transportation commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “This transformative project will help ensure the safety of the traveling public and improve mobility for commuters in Monroe County.  Just as important, this project is part of a major corridor for higher education and world class businesses that hundreds of thousands of people rely upon each day.  DOT is pleased to be a part of this exciting project that truly connects a community and we look forward to the seeing the next phases of construction break ground.”