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New York State Thruway Authority

Interchange 23 Matrix

RETURN TO INTERCHANGE CONCEPTS

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF DESIGN CONCEPTS
NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY – INTERCHANGE 23
Interchange 23
Evaluation Criterion Concept J1 Concept J3
PROPOSED ACTION
Description The Thruway ramps would be relocated to the southern side of the Thruway mainline. A Single-Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) would connect I-787 to Route 9W. Route 9W would be re-aligned to form a signalized four-way intersection with McCarty Avenue and Frisbee Avenue.1 This concept would be similar to Concept J1 except that the connection to Route 9W is provided by ramps similar to the existing connections.1
PROJECT GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Meet the Traffic Capacity and Safety Needs of the Thruway system
Provides Capacity to Meet Design Year

Traffic Volumes

Yes Yes
Freeway Merge/Diverge Level-of-Service All operate at LOS C or better. All operate at LOS C or better.
Safety These comments apply to Concepts J1 and J3:

Increases weaving distance between the Route 9W ramps and the Interchange 23 toll plaza.Concrete barriers at toll plaza separate opposing traffic movements.

Improves safety by eliminating left-turns in and out of tandem lot by eliminating the tandem lot.

Improve Regional Mobility
Thruway Facilities
Improvements Increased capacity at toll plaza would reduce congestion and delay. Increased capacity at toll plaza would reduce congestion and delay.
Concerns No concerns identified. No concerns identified.
Non-Thruway Facilities
Improvements This comment applies to Concepts J1 and J3:
This concept would provide a direct connection between I-787 and the Thruway toll plaza.
Concerns No concerns identified. No concerns identified.
No. of Intersections Operating at LOS E or worse
2024 No-Build Conditions

4

4

2024 Build Conditions

02

02

Minimize Acquisition of Developed Properties
Right-of-Way Required Avoids acquisition of developed properties. Requires:

45 ± Acres

Avoids acquisition of developed properties and minimizes right-of-way required. Requires:

40 ± Acres

No. of Full Acquisitions Req’d (approx.)      
Residential

0

0

Commercial

0

0

Undeveloped

1

1

Minimize Negative Socio-Economic and Environmental Concerns
Potential Wetland Concerns Minimizes filling wetland. Results in filling of:

2 ± Acres

Minimizes filling wetland. Results in filling of:

2 ± Acres

Potential Noise Benefits This comment applies to Concepts J1 and J3: Reduces noise by decreasing congestion at toll plaza.
Potential Noise Concerns This comment applies to Concepts J1 and J3: Constructs new ramps closer to properties south of McAlpin Street and on Noonan Lane.
Potential Ecological Concerns This comment applies to Concepts J1 and J3: Potential concerns with the Normans Kill and its tributary. No construction directly in the Normans Kill.
Potential Aesthetic & Visual Concerns This comment applies to Concepts J1 and J3: Constructs new ramp and bridge near properties south of McAlpin Street adjacent to the Thruway mainline.
Acquisition of Businesses, Recreation Areas

And Churches

This comment applies to Concepts J1 and J3: No negative concerns identified.
Tandem Lot Concerns This comment applies to Concepts J1 and J3: Relocation of the tandem lot is required because access cannot be provided from the realigned I-787 mainline.
Utility Concerns This comment applies to Concepts J1 and J3: Construction of the proposed toll plaza would require relocation of overhead electric lines located on private property that cross the existing Interchange 23 SB ramps.
Maximize Use of Existing Infrastructure
Thruway Facilities Replaces Thruway ramps. Replaces Thruway ramps.
Non-Thruway Facilities
  • Eliminates I-787 mainline south of exit ramp to Thruway toll plaza.Eliminates all Route 9W ramps.
  • Eliminates section of Route 9W near Frisbee Avenue.
  • Eliminates I-787 NB mainline south of entrance ramp from Thruway toll plaza.
  • Eliminates all Route 9W ramps except ramp from toll plaza to Route 9W.
Minimize Project Costs
Order of Magnitude Construction Cost

$63 M

($58 M)3

$66 M

($58 M)3

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Maintenance and Operations This comment applies to Concepts J1 and J3:

Three (3) additional toll lanes required compared to existing.

Special Construction Considerations This comment applies to Concepts J1 and J3: Construction of the proposed Thruway ramps on steep slopes composed of a deep clay layer would require 1-year to construct new embankment and 1-year of pre-loading prior to ramp pavement construction.
Environmental Review Process This comment applies to Concepts J1 and J3:

The improvements at Interchange 23 could be completed separately from other Thruway improvement projects.

Construction of the Thruway ramps could be constructed independently of the reconstruction work on Route 9W and I-787 shown on the figures for Concept J1 and J3.

1 The work shown in italics in the description is not required to meet capacity needs of the New York State Thruway. The work on Route 9W and I-787, which addresses intersection capacity needs on non-Thruway facilities, is required to accommodate the new ramps between I-787 and Route 9W resulting from the direct connection between the Thruway and I-787.

2 The intersections are improved as a result of the Route 9W work, not the work required to meet Thruway capacity needs. The Thruway interchange improvements could be constructed without completing the Route 9W and I-787 work.

3 The cost shown in parentheses is for the Thruway work only. The total cost includes the Route 9W/I-787 work.