Construction has wrapped on a $61.8 million road resurfacing and bridge repair project for I-95 in Bronx and Westchester that enhances the road’s “rideability and reliability,” the governor announced Tuesday.
The state paved four miles of I-95, from Westchester Avenue to Pelhamdale Avenue, and repaired the support structures of 11 of its bridges and ramps, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said in a release. The key commuter route, known as the New England Thruway, carries roughly 120,000 vehicles daily, the release said.
The project improved the road’s structural integrity by replacing deteriorated portions of its pavement, and improved its safety by installing reflective pavement markings, the state said.
I-95 is “among the smoothest roads in our region,” said Robert Sinclair, Jr., a spokesman for AAA Northeast who drives the roadway regularly during his commute. The money the state has spent to maintain the highway has kept it in good condition, even as more cars have taken to the road after the pandemic, he said.
“Quality pavement goes a long way to helping a driver maintain their vehicle. It also leads to better commute times,” he said.
Two pedestrian bridges over I-95 that connect Co-op City to surrounding neighborhoods — at 222nd Street and Dyre Avenue — were also restored, the release said. The replaced superstructures of the bridges — steel beams, concrete decks and fencing — were more than 60 years old, according to the state.
Matthew Cruz, the district manager of Bronx Community Board #10, which represents Co-op City and surrounding neighborhoods, applauded the repairs.
“It’s another option for Bronxites to get out of their vehicles, enjoy some of the views and travel back and forth from Co-op City,” Cruz said in a phone interview with Newsday. “It’s obviously safer now for people to use, a little bit more accessible for all of our community members, and a welcome addition.”
The project to restore the four-mile stretch of I-95 began in Spring 2023, the state said. Another $86.7 million road and bridge repair project for a five-mile stretch of the road, entirely in Westchester, started in April. That project is scheduled to be completed at the end of next year, the state said.
“Anyone who has driven in and around New York City and Westchester knows that this highway is an essential corridor for the entire region, and this project will ensure it remains reliable for years to come,” Hochul said in a statement.
Alek Lewis covers the towns of Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island for Newsday. He previously worked as a reporter for RiverheadLOCAL, where he received awards from the New York Press Association and the Press Club of Long Island for his reporting on local government and politics. A Riverhead native, he is a graduate of Stony Brook University.