$148 million Patroon Island Bridge rehab project completed

Albany, NY According to governor Andrew Cuomo, the $148 million project to rehabilitate the Patroon Island Bridge which carries I-90 over the Hudson River between Rensselaer and Albany has been completed. When construction began in 2013, it was one of the largest NYS Department of Transportation projects in upstate.

“The Patroon Island Bridge is a key part of this state’s transportation infrastructure, as well as an economic driver, that is depended upon by millions of New Yorkers, travelers and businesses from the Capital Region and beyond,” governor Cuomo said. “These critical repairs will help ensure its viability for years to come.”

The project involved rehabilitating the Patroon Island Bridge and all the ramps comprising the I-90 interchange with I-787 at the western end of the bridge. Work included replacing the bridge decks and bearings, repairing steel, painting the bridges, and replacing and repairing the substructures of the interchange. Work also included building new concrete piers to support the interchange ramps, as well as installing new traffic monitoring systems. New concrete barriers were installed on and between the bridges. Pre-cast concrete deck panels were used to speed construction.

The project’s staging area located in part of the city’s Corning Preserve has been restored and landscaping was performed throughout the project limits.

Work was structured to have the least amount of impact on traffic as possible as part of the Drivers First initiative developed by governor Cuomo. The project plans went through a rigorous review to ensure that there were minimal impacts on highway users.

The project was funded through the NY Works program, which focuses on improving the condition of bridges from fair condition to good condition in order to extend their service life.

This major rehabilitation will better preserve the heavily traveled bridge and ensure safety and mobility for decades.

At its highest point, the roadway of the Patroon Island Bridge is 106 ft. over the Hudson River. The bridge carries an average of 70,000 motor vehicles per day, with an average of 84,000 vehicles daily using the I-90 and I-787 interchange.