AASHTO Journal - New York Interchange to Improve Traffic Flow, Safety

The New York State Department of Transportation recently noted that major work is now complete on the five-year $172.8 million I-390/I-490/Route 31 Interchange Improvement Project in the Town of Gates, Monroe County.

[Above photo by the NYSDOT]

That project – completed a month ahead of schedule and on budget – made a host of highway improvements to ease travel, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance safety along this vital corridor for the flow of people and commerce in the Rochester area.

The project entailed repairing or replacing seven bridges, creating a new exit ramp connecting Interstate 390 to Lyell Avenue, and constructing the new southbound I-390 Flyover. The NYSDOT noted that 200,000 motorists use this corridor daily to reach key centers of economic activity, including the Greater Rochester International Airport, the Rochester Technology Park, the Eastman Business Park and downtown Rochester.

“Ensuring our roadways are safe and well maintained is a critical component of helping grow local economies and this project will be a game changer for Monroe County,” explained Governor Kathy Hochul (D) in a statement.

“With this work now complete, these roadways will not only be safer and less congested, but we are also helping ensure the Finger Lakes region remains economically competitive as we continue to recover from the pandemic,” she added.

NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez pointed out that this multi-year project also installed new sidewalks, bicycle lanes and drainage systems in the corridor.

“Like the completion of the Erie Canal did nearly two centuries ago, the new I-390/I-490 interchange project will usher in a new era for the movement of people and goods in upstate New York, enhancing safety, reducing congestion and helping communities like Rochester and Monroe County flourish,” she explained.

“[This is] how investments in infrastructure improve quality of life and foster economic growth,” Dominguez added. “With construction now complete, travelers can now take advantage of a modern, efficient and more resilient interchange that is ready to meet the demands of the 21st Century.”