Road work to hamper I-90 motorists

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN).....If you drive along of a busy stretch of the New York State Thruway that traverses Amherst, Lancaster, Buffalo and Cheektowaga...be prepared for delays and slower traffic patterns for the next 18 months.

That's because work has started on a $64 million project that will reconstruct the Thruway from Exit 50 (near where the former Williamsville toll barrier once stood) to Exit 53 where the I-90 and I-190 intersect. The work will cover 6.5 miles.

"This has been in the planning stage for the past few years," said Kelly Holland, New York State Thruway Authority spokesperson.

Work began in April and should be completed by late 2027.

Work includes drainage repairs, a full pavement resurfacing, the installation of new guard rails and precast concrete barriers and adjusting the clearance of the Route 33 overpass.

Crews from Elma's Oakgrove Construction - the project's low bidder - will be working in both directions, Holland said.

All is part of a five year capital improvement plan that will see the Thruway Authority invest $2.8 billion on statewide upgrades along the thruway network.

"It was time," Holland said of the of the project.

That stretch of the Thruway handles more than 132,000 vehicles daily.

One of centerpieces will be adjusting the 18-wheeler clearance by the Route 33 overpass.

Crews will be adjusting the clearance by less than one-half of an inch, seeing it go from 14.2-feet to 14.6 feet.

The overpass has been struck by 18-wheelers 13 times in the past decade including an incident this past March.

The minute adjustment will not be noticeable to drivers, Holland said.

"You won't even notice it," Holland said.

As a safety precaution, the speed limit has been dropped to 45 mph and will be heavily monitored.

Thus far, more than 13,000 speeding violations have been recorded and drivers have been warned or fined.

"We ask that driver's respect the workers," Holland said. "Losing one life because of work zone speeder is one too many."