Toll Plaza/Barrier Improvements

In an effort to continue our goal to construct, operate and maintain a safe and efficient highway network, improvement and upgrades are constantly being made to our toll plazas and barriers. Increasing traffic volumes and the need to provide pavement repairs with the least disruption to traffic flow has led to the use of more innovative rehabilitation solutions. An example of this involves the use of precast concrete pavement slabs to replace any existing cracked or deteriorating slabs. The existing concrete pavement can be removed and new precast concrete slabs installed, thus allowing the lane to be opened to traffic immediately after. Improvements in technology have also led to more efficient methods of collecting tolls.

An example of this is the implementation of the E-ZPass tag system. Not only can E-ZPass be used in every toll lane, but several plazas and barriers have dedicated E-ZPass lanes installed for added convenience. To help provide better guidance into these E-ZPass lanes, a new pilot program is being implemented at some of the busier toll plazas. As part of this program, lane numbering is provided on the canopy over each toll lane along with lane striping and numbering on the plaza pavement. Advance notice signing will alert drivers as to which lane numbers are dedicated E-ZPass lanes and the lane striping will assist to channelize the traffic into each lane making it more accessible. Further E-ZPass improvements are continually being developed and implemented, such the installation Highway Speed E-ZPass lanes when and where feasible along the Thruway system. For more information refer to the Highway Speed E-ZPass design page.