For Immediate Release: February 15, 2006

THRUWAY AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES RECONSTRUCTION AND MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS BETWEEN INTERCHANGE 23 AND 24 DEIS NOW AVAILABLE

The New York State Thruway Authority has announced that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for reconstruction and mobility improvements between Interchange 23 and 24 has been released.

The Thruway Reconstruction and Mobility Improvement Project between Interchanges 23 and 24 is the first project to stem from the Albany Corridor Study which was conducted between Interchanges 21A (Berkshire Connector) and 25A (Schenectady, I-88) in Albany and Schenectady Counties.

The Authority’s pavement condition ratings indicate that the underlying pavement conditions between Interchanges 23 and 24 require the mainline to be reconstructed. Traffic analyses indicate that the high volume of traffic on this section of the Thruway warrants consideration of mobility improvements, such as the addition of a travel lane in each direction on the NYS Thruway mainline from Interchange 23 (MP 141.92) to Interchange 24 (MP 148.15).

In accordance with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), the Authority held a Public Scoping meeting on February 15, 2005, to allow for public opinion.

A Public hearing will be held at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, 400 Whitehall Road, Albany, NY 12208 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM on March 14, 2006 for the proposed reconstruction and operational improvements on the New York State Thruway between Interchanges 23 and 24. The project will start at milepost 141.3 and extend to milepost 148.0. The total length of the project is 6.74 miles, located in the Town of Guilderland, Town of Bethlehem, and City of Albany, Albany County.

The DEIS for this action assesses the effect of the project on: noise, air quality, water quality, property impacts, cultural and historic resources, hazardous waste, ecosystems, threatened species, visual resources, and environmentally sensitive lands. Written comments submitted and received before March 31, 2006 will be made part of the project record.

The DEIS has been distributed to involved and interested agencies. It is also available on the Authority’s website at www.nysthruway.gov/projectsandstudies/projects/i23-i24/deis/index.html. In addition, the DEIS is available at the following local libraries:

Albany Public Library
Main Branch
161 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12210

Albany Public Library
Delaware Branch
485 Delaware Avenue
Albany, New York 12209

Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Avenue
Delmar, New York 12054

Guilderland Public Library
2228 Western Avenue
Guilderland, New York 12084

For more information about the project contact the Authority’s Department of Public Affairs at (518) 436-2983 or visit www.nysthruway.gov select, “Int. 23-24 Reconstruction" from the left navigation bar, then select “Project Draft EIS”.

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