Q - Why are the Thruway Authority and the Department of Transportation undertaking this project?
A - The project is being undertaken to improve the connections between I-84 and I-87 (Thruway). The existing I-84/I-87 interchange requires interstate traffic to utilize a local arterial (Route 300) to connect to the two interstates. Rapid growth in the Newburgh area has increased local traffic volumes on Route 300. This increase of local traffic, combined with an increase in volumes connecting between the two interstates, has resulted in traffic and safety concerns, primarily at the junctions with Route 300. Traffic analyses indicate that eliminating the interstate traffic component will greatly improve the safety of operations along the Route 300 corridor and reduce the volume of large trucks by 30 percent. The proposed improvement will simultaneously simplify interstate-to-interstate connections.

Q - How much will the project cost?
A - The combined cost of the three construction contracts is estimated at $120 million.

Q - How will the project be funded?
A - The project will be funded by a combination of Federal, NYS Thruway Authority and NYSDOT Funds.

Q - When did construction begin?  When will construction end?
A - Phase 1 of construction began in August 2003. Phase 2 began in the Spring of 2006, and Phase 3 began in the Spring of 2007, with a completion date of August 2009.

Q - Will crews be working at night?
A - Night activities are expected to be limited to the installation of utilities across busy roadways and the erection of steel for the three bridges that will cross over I-84. At each bridge crossing, intermittent traffic stoppages are expected to last approximately one week.

Q - What type of construction will be done during the day? How will this affect traffic?
A - The daytime work will involve the re-grading of the interchange, construction of the new ramps and bridges, and the relocation of the maintenance and toll facilities affected by the project. Work will also be undertaken on Route 300 to facilitate the new interchange configuration and maintain local access to both interstates. Traffic will be largely unaffected by construction as the work will be staged to minimize impacts to the traveling public. No off-site detours will be required as all movements within the interchange will be maintained for the duration of construction.

Q - Will property be taken?  If so, how will owners be compensated?
A - The proposed project will not take property from any residential landowner.  The project will acquire property from three commercially zoned parcels. Two of the three are presently undeveloped. The one developed parcel is the Newburgh Mall property, from which 0.4 acres of parking area and associated drainage channels will be taken.  Monetary compensation will be provided to the owners of the properties at fair market value at the time of purchase.

Q - Will toll collection be eliminated at the Newburgh Interchange?
A - Elimination of toll collection at the Newburgh Plaza was considered during the evaluation of design alternatives. Studies determined that in order to maintain current toll revenues (a requirement of the Authority's bond holder covenants) a new mainline plaza would need to be constructed north of Interchange 17. The estimated direct cost (construction of a 16-lane toll plaza in both directions) and indirect costs (right-of-way acquisition, environmental impacts, disruption of mainline Thruway traffic) indicated that it would be more cost effective and cause less impacts to maintain toll collection at Interchange 17.

Q - Is this project related to the Stewart Airport Access (Drury Lane) project?
A - The proposed project is independent of the Drury Lane project. The project improvements accomplish different goals. The goals of this project include improving safety and operations on Route 300, as well as improved interstate-to-interstate connections between I-84 & I-87.

Q - Will this new updated interchange attract more traffic through our area?
A - Traffic studies conducted during the preliminary design phase predicted a small (1 percent) increase in the overall traffic using the interchange as a result of the proposed improvements. It is expected that this increase will mostly include interstate trucks taking advantage of a better connection between New York and New England.  Interstate-to-interstate traffic on Route 300 will be reduced while the affect on local traffic using Route 300 is estimated to be minor.

Q - Did the improvements along Route 300 in 1998 help relieve traffic congestion?  Was Route 300 improvement work necessary?
A - The 1998 improvements to Route 300 were intended as an interim measure to improve operations along Route 300 until a comprehensive interchange improvement could be constructed. 

Q - Will the added traffic signals cause congestion on Route 300?
A - The additional traffic signals on Route 300 will subject traffic  to a 37-second delay when compared to existing conditions. The proposed conditions, although slower, will provide safer roadways.

Q - Will the new access to the Thruway from Route 300 make it more difficult for me to get to/from my business/ residence off of Stewart Avenue.
A - The new access to the Thruway will introduce an additional phase at the traffic light to include left turn signals at the Route 300/Stewart Avenue intersection. The revised signal operations will introduce minor delays to the westbound Stewart Avenue approach to the intersection. However, with the new signal arrangement, left turns from Stewart Avenue will now be permitted. Southbound Route 300 traffic will experience minor delays compared to its current unimpeded movement.

Q - The new Tandem Trailer facility looks very large.  Does this mean a lot of trucks will use Route 300?
A - The new tandem trailer facility is sized for 90 vehicles.  By regulation, trucks using Route 300 will be restricted to single semi-trailers. With the proposed improvements, the volume of trucks using Route 300 will not exceed the current volume.  Traffic analyses indicate that eliminating the interstate traffic component will greatly improve the safety of operations along the Route 300 corridor and reduce the volume of large trucks by 30 percent. 

Q - What are the modern features that will be implemented at the Toll Plazas?
A - The new Toll Plaza will include a number of features that will improve toll collection and safety, including higher speed (20 mph) E-ZPass lanes, Dedicated Truck Lanes and an overhead walkway that will eliminate the need for toll collectors to cross active lanes. New style booths will also be installed to improve toll collector efficiency. Also, an unmanned "E-ZPass Only" toll plaza will be constructed on the Ramp to Route 17K for local access. Traffic using this lane will pass an E-ZPass reader at ramp speed (30-35 mph).

Q - The on-ramp from Route 17K to the Thruway is very convenient.  Why has it been eliminated?
A - The Route 17K off-ramp will be retained for E-ZPass traffic only. With the proposed interchange, local traffic entering the Thruway will be required to travel Route 300 to the vicinity of Stewart Avenue, where it would enter the Thruway via a signalized intersection at Route 300.

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