Construction has started on a $24.5 million project to replace two 59-year-old bridges along the ramp connecting Interstate 84 westbound to Interstate 684 southbound in New York state’s Putnam County.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the project, which will replace the aging structures with wider, more resilient bridges designed to enhance safety along a key route linking New England and the lower Hudson Valley.
The work includes replacing one bridge over Interstate 84 and another over Interstate 684. The new bridges will feature wider ramps with additional shoulder width to provide space for emergency vehicles and meet federal safety standards. At 16 feet, 6 inches, the new clearances will be higher than the original structures, aligning with modern interstate standards and reducing the potential for bridge strikes.
“By replacing these outdated bridges, we are modernizing a key junction that New Yorkers depend on every day, ensuring that people and goods remain on the move and that our communities continue to grow and prosper,” Hochul said.
The project incorporates environmental features including five vegetation swales along the ramps to manage stormwater runoff, screen sediment and filter pollutants. The swales will also reduce water flow along travel lanes during storms, lowering the risk of roadway closures and protecting bridge foundations from erosion.
The new spans will feature jointless bridge decks to reduce noise pollution and long-term maintenance costs while creating a smoother riding surface. Warm-mix asphalt will be used, and materials onsite will be recycled and reused where applicable.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said more than $22 million from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Law is funding the project.
“The new, modern bridges will boost resiliency and ensure smoother and safer travel along this key gateway, all while creating good-paying construction jobs,” Schumer said.
During construction, the ramp will remain open with staged work and lane shifts. Travelers on interstates 84 and 684 should expect several overnight closures for demolition work. The bridge over Interstate 684 is expected to be completed in 2027, with the bridge over Interstate 84 anticipated by 2028.