New York Construction Report staff writer
A $23.7 million superstructure replacement project has started on the NYS Thruway (I-87) in the Town of Esopus, Ulster County. The major infrastructure project targets the 360-foot-long, three-span bridge built in 1955 over the Wallkill River and State Route 213, between exits 18 (New Paltz – Poughkeepsie – NY Route 299) and 19 (Kingston – NY Route 28 – Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge).
Harrison and Burrowes Bridge Constructions Inc. of Glenmont secured the project contract following a competitive bidding process. Work is scheduled for completion in Fall 2026.
The project involves removing and replacing the existing superstructure, installing new structural steel, and reconstructing over 40,000 sq. ft. of concrete bridge deck and highway approaches. It will be executed in three stages, with completion expected in the fall of 2026.
- Stage 1: Currently underway, this stage focuses on preparing the median crossover area for construction in 2025 and conducting concrete repairs on existing abutments and piers.
- Stage 2: Scheduled to begin in 2025, this phase includes the removal of the existing northbound bridge superstructure and construction of a new northbound bridge with new bearings, structural steel, bridge deck, and approaches.
- Stage 3: Commencing in 2026, this stage entails removing the southbound superstructure and constructing a new southbound bridge, mirroring the improvements made in stage two. Metalizing new bridge girders and other structural steel components will enhance their resistance to rust and corrosion.
Enhanced environmental measures will protect the Wallkill River during construction, with sedimentation and erosion controls to prevent discharge into surface waters. Post-construction, soil stabilization efforts will improve stormwater runoff efficiency.
The Thruway Authority’s 2024 Budget allocates $451 million to support its Capital Program, anticipating $2.4 billion in investments over the next five years. This funding will enhance approximately half of the Thruway’s 2,800 lane miles and address projects on around 90 of its 817 bridges.
