Governor Cuomo Announces Completion of $14 Million Route 531 Terminus Project in Monroe County

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced work is now complete on the second and final phase of the $14 million Route 531 Terminus Project in the towns of Ogden and Sweden, Monroe County. The redesigned highway will ease traffic flow and enhance safety along the Route 531 corridor, a critical transportation link that serves thousands of motorists traveling between Rochester's interstates and Orleans County. The highway is also a major access point for the SUNY Brockport campus, the Rochester Tech Park and westside communities in Monroe County.

"The Route 531 Terminus Project is one of many infrastructure investments we're making in this region and across the state to improve travel and promote expanded access to businesses, schools and local neighborhoods," Governor Cuomo said. "These projects help to revitalize upstate communities and continue to support our goal of moving the Finger Lakes Forward."

Under construction since 2017, the project was intended to create a more efficient and easier-to-navigate junction of Route 531, Route 36 and Route 31 (Brockport-Spencerport Road).

Phase two of the project, which began in May 2018, created a direct connection between Route 531 and Route 31 through a newly constructed roadway west of Route 36, which transitions from a four-lane highway to a two-lane arterial road. The new roadway was first opened to traffic in August of 2018.

Additional safety enhancements made as part of the project include:

• Widening of Route 31 from the Route 531 intersection west to Gallup Road and adding a center median to separate eastbound and westbound travel lanes;
• Transforming the previous stretch of Route 31 into a cul-de-sac to provide access to residences north of the newly constructed Route 31; and
• Constructing continuous two-way left turn lanes on Route 31 between Gallup Road in the Town of Ogden and Salmon Creek Road in the Town of Sweden.

New York State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Paul A. Karas said, "Enhancing safety and improving access for the thousands of motorists in the region that rely on this expressway is vital to not only the local economy, but our goals in modernizing our aging infrastructure. This project will benefit both Monroe and Orleans Counties for years to come."

Congressman Joseph D. Morelle said, "Infrastructure investments like the 531 Terminus Project are helping to spur economic development throughout the Finger Lakes Region. I thank Governor Cuomo and the Department of Transportation for this key investment and look forward to working with them to build an even more robust infrastructure in our region for years to come."

Senator Joseph E. Robach said, "Thousands of Monroe County residents utilize the Route 531 Expressway to access I-490, SUNY Brockport, Rochester Tech Park or the western towns and villages of Monroe County. The completed upgrades to Route 531 will improve motorist safety and accessibility, which is always one of our top priorities with these road improvement projects."

Senator Robert G. Ortt said, "The completion of the Route 531 Terminus Project upgrades is welcome news for those New Yorkers who use this expressway on a daily basis, whether it be for transport to work or use in everyday life. Throughout the Western New York region, transit problems are continuing to be identified and successfully resolved, allowing for easier mobility across the region. Although upgrades to state roads and highways are not glamorous projects, they are responsible for some of the largest impacts on the daily lives of our state's residents. This Terminus project is no different."

Assembly Member Steve Hawley said, “I am pleased to see the completion of this project and a major travel hurdle minimized for thousands of motorists and residents who live and work in Western Monroe County and Orleans County. Safe and easy travel through this area is vital to thousands of local students and residents who drive this exchange each day. Continued infrastructure investment will allow for quicker commutes and a more pleasant ride for students who attend The College at Brockport and live and work in Sweden, Hamlin, Brockport and Clarkson. I am proud to witness this project’s completion and look forward to working with state leaders to continue investment in local roads and highways.”

Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo said, "Infrastructure projects are the building blocks of our modern economy and enhance our mission to grow more jobs and attract new investment to Monroe County. Route 531 is a vital thoroughfare that helps thousands of drivers get to work, back home, or wherever they may need to go each day. I thank NYSDOT for their commitment to this major improvement and for assisting our efforts to grow more jobs, build better budgets, and support stronger families across our community."

Ogden Town Supervisor Gay Lenhard said, "I have had a number of comments from residents who are extremely happy with the final phase of the $14 million Route 531 Terminus Project. It is apparently much safer, as this project has been able to ease the flow of traffic to so many commercial developments, as well as to a college and neighborhoods."

In keeping with Governor Cuomo's Drivers First Initiative to minimize construction impacts to the traveling public, the project included early completion incentives and date restrictions to accommodate school schedules.

For real-time travel information, motorists should call 511 or visit https://www.511ny.org/ or the mobile site at m.511ny.org, New York State's official traffic and travel information source.

Follow New York State DOT on Twitter at @NYSDOT and @NYSDOTRochester. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/NYSDOT.

Accelerating Finger Lakes Forward

Today's announcement complements "Finger Lakes Forward," the region's comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The State has already invested more than $6.1 billion in the region since 2012 to lay the groundwork for the plan - investing in key industries including photonics, agriculture and food production, and advanced manufacturing. Today, unemployment is down to the lowest levels since before the Great Recession; personal and corporate income taxes are down; and businesses are choosing places like Rochester, Batavia and Canandaigua as a destination to grow and invest in.

Now, the region is accelerating Finger Lakes Forward with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State's $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion - and the region's plan, as submitted, projects up to 8,200 new jobs. More information is available here.