Governor Hochul Announces Progress on Two Bridge Replacement Projects Totaling $12 Million in Onondaga County

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the reopening and substantial completion of the $4.7 million replacement of the Canton Street Bridge which carries local traffic over the New York State Thruway (I-90) in the Town of Warners in Onondaga County. With the reopening of the Canton Street Bridge, crews will begin construction in the coming weeks on a $7.3 million project to replace the nearby Warners Road Bridge (milepost 292.49) over I-90 in the Town of Warners.

"The Canton Street Bridge and Warners Road Bridge are essential links in the town's transportation network, connecting residents and businesses in the community," Governor Hochul said. "These projects are two of the hundreds of bridge restorations that we are investing in across New York State to ensure our infrastructure is safe, reliable, and accessible for all New Yorkers for decades to come."

Originally built in 1954, the Canton Street Bridge (mile post 292.06) carries approximately 2,000 vehicles per day. Safety improvements on the new bridge include an increase in vertical clearance to 16’6” from 13’11”, standard travel lanes and shoulders, new guiderail, reflective line striping and continued pedestrian access.

Thruway Authority Interim Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said, “Motorists are seeing their toll dollars at work with infrastructure investment projects such as the replacement of the Canton Street Bridge. The new bridge enhances the overall safety for traffic both on the Thruway and the local road, and replaces aging infrastructure with a safe, reliable connector in the Warners community.”

The Authority’s approved 2023 Budget invests a total of $413 million to support its Capital Program which is scheduled to invest $1.9 billion into capital projects through 2027. In 2022, motorists took more than 376 million trips and drove 7.7 billion miles on the Thruway system.

The current Warners Road Bridge was built in 1954 and carries approximately 3,000 vehicles per day. The new bridge will have increased vertical clearance from 14’3 to 16’6” to meet current standards, standard travel lanes and shoulders, pedestrian fencing, improved sight distance at the intersection of Brickyard Road over the Warners Road Bridge, reflective line striping, new guiderail and a new riding surface.

State Senator Rachel May said, “It’s exciting to see the result of the significant investments we’ve put into infrastructure projects in our state. With the completion of the Canton Street bridge rehabilitation, Central New Yorkers now have a safe and dependable way of getting to I-90. This is critical because many residents rely on the Thruway for quick access to places throughout the region. Thank you to Governor Hochul, the Senate Majority, and the New York State Thruway Authority for the recent improvements to many roadways in our area.”

Assemblymember William B. Magnarelli said, “I am pleased to see the Warners Road Bridge and the Canton Street Bridge infrastructure brought up to date. This busy commuter corridor will help maintain traffic in the Warners and Baldwinsville area. Investing in rebuilding our bridges reinforces New York State’s commitment to protecting and enhancing our statewide infrastructure which in tour enhances economic development and our quality of life.”

Van Buren Town Supervisor Rick Zaccaria said, “After the once in a generation storm we endured earlier this week, the re-opening of the Canton St. bridge reminds us how vital these arteries are to our community. Not only to the daily commute, but to our Emergency Services and First Responders ability to react and respond to a crisis."

In the coming weeks, the Warners Road Bridge will be closed to traffic for the duration of the project, with the exact date to be announced approximately one week in advance. The date is weather dependent and subject to change.

During construction, a detour of just under one mile will be in place. Motorists can take the new Canton Street to Brickyard Road to reach the north side of the Warners Road Bridge. A map of the detour is available here.

The Warners Road Bridge project is expected to be complete in Fall 2024. Slate Hill Constructors, Inc. of Warners, NY is the contractor that submitted the low bid on both projects. The work is weather dependent and dates are subject to change.

Variable Message Signs (VMS) are used to alert motorists of the closure and detour. During construction motorists may encounter lane closures on the Thruway along with traffic shifts and stoppages. 

Motorists are reminded that in New York State, fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual's driver license.

The Automated Work Zone Speed Monitoring pilot program was established by legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul. The safety enforcement program began in April and will be in effect in various construction zones on the Thruway. Work zones with speed enforcement will have clear signage leading up to the work zone. Motorists violating the posted speed limit within the work zone will be fined. Violation fines will be issued to the vehicle’s registered owner by mail. More information on the program can be found here.

For up-to-date travel information, motorists are encouraged to download its mobile app which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic and navigation assistance while on the go.

Travelers can also visit the Thruway Authority's interactive Traveler Map which features live traffic cameras. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert emails, which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway.