Monster blues

The first span of the New York State Thruway Authority’s new bridge is scheduled to open in mid-2017, with the second crossing opening in 2018. In contrast to its predecessor, the new twin-span structure will last at least a century without major structural maintenance. More capacity, the addition of breakdown lanes and state-of-the-art traffic monitoring systems will mean less congestion and safer movement for all travelers. The bridge also will feature a bike/pedestrian path and is designed to accommodate bus rapid transit, light rail or commuter rail in the future.