On Tuesday, New York State's Department of Transportation highlighted two $82.7 million dollar infrastructure investments for Chautauqua County, which includes the start of a major bridge rehabilitation project and the substantial completion of a multi-modal highway improvement project.
A $78 million project is getting underway to rehabilitate the bridges carrying Interstate 86 - which is also known as the Southern Tier Expressway - over Chautauqua Lake in the towns of Ellery and North Harmony in Chautauqua County. Additionally, a $4.7 million project is substantially complete, rehabilitating State Route 430, Washington Street, from 2nd Street to Fluvanna Avenue, and State Route 394, Fairmount Avenue, from McDaniel Avenue to Fairmount Avenue/6th Street in the city of Jamestown in Chautauqua County.
Interstate 86 Bridges
The four bridge structures going over Chautauqua Lake will receive new road surfaces and other repairs to enhance safety, ease travel and improve resiliency along this this vital corridor linking the Southern Tier region of New York to northwestern Pennsylvania. The project will extend the service life of the bridges, which were built in the early 1980’s, by approximately 40 years. The bridges are located along the western segment of Interstate 86 that follows the corridor of the original State Route 17, extending from Pennsylvania to across the Southern Tier of New York, serving such key cities as Jamestown, Salamanca, Olean, Corning and Elmira.
As part of the project, the 3,790-foot-long main bridge crossing Chautauqua Lake and two, 500-foot-long bridge structures that split off the eastern end of the main bridge, and carry the eastbound and westbound lanes of traffic will receive new concrete bridge decks, bridge barriers, bearings and steel repairs. These three structures total 24 spans. A fourth bridge structure that carries westbound I-86 ramps to State Route 430 will also receive new bridge joints and will be resurfaced.
Work on the project will progress over four construction seasons, with initial work focusing on the creation of crossover lanes to move traffic during future project phases. One lane of traffic in each direction of I-86 will be maintained throughout the bulk of the project, however, motorists should be prepared for some overnight closures of the highway in 2024 and 2025 to facilitate the pouring of the new bridge decks. During this time, nighttime traffic will be accommodated using off-site detours. The project is expected to be complete in the fall of 2026.
Jamestown Project
The Jamestown project, which will be substantially complete by the end of June, implemented a road diet along Washington Street which includes converting four-lanes to three-lanes of traffic on Washington Street from Fluvanna Avenue to West Second Street. This allows for the installation of a two-way left-turn lane. New bicycle lanes, separated by a buffer from vehicular traffic, will go along both sides of Washington Street.
A road diet typically involves transforming a road by reducing the lanes on a road in each direction, coupled with a variety of enhancements that could include sidewalks, bike lanes, bus lanes or parking lanes. Traditionally these are low-cost projects that could be as simple as restriping the road, reducing speed and increasing mobility and accessibility while enhancing safety for all users.
Both Washington Street and Fairmount Avenue were resurfaced, coupled with drainage improvements.
In addition, eleven traffic signs along Washington Street and Fluvanna Avenue will be replaced or modified, and one new traffic signal will be installed on West 6th Street at Whitley Avenue. Pedestrian facilities were upgraded by installing new curb ramps and crosswalks, and new pedestrian signals with countdown timers will be installed.
Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.
