Motorists Should Avoid the Area Starting Early Saturday Evening (Jan. 6) and Take Alternate Routes
Closure is Required to Safely Remove a Portion of Brookside Road Overpass in New Paltz
Overpass Has Been Hit By Over-Height Trucks Nine Times in 2023
Plattekill Service Area to Close Late Saturday Afternoon
Southbound Lanes to Fully Close Jan. 13-14
The New York State Thruway Authority today announced that the northbound lanes of the Thruway (I-87) from exit 17 in Newburgh to exit 18 in New Paltz will fully shut down to all traffic at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, for at least 12 hours so a portion of the damaged Brookside Road overpass in New Paltz can be safely removed over the northbound lanes, weather permitting. The Plattekill Service Area will be closed during this operation. Motorists should seek alternate routes while this work takes place or avoid travel in the area during these times, if possible.
Closed to traffic since May, the Brookside Road overpass has been hit by over-height vehicles nine times in 2023 and 27 times since 2019. These repeated collisions have resulted in considerable damage to the steel that supports the overpass and decreased the amount of weight it can safely carry. Following regular monitoring and multiple inspections, Thruway and consulting engineers have determined the overpass should be removed in the interest of public safety.
Built in 1954, the four-span continuous four-girder bridge carries Brookside Road (milepost 74.17) over the Thruway – one lane of traffic in each direction – in the town of New Paltz in Ulster County. It had a vertical clearance is 14.2 feet, which has been reduced to 14 feet due to the multiple bridge strikes in both directions, including one on 
Oct. 30 when its girders above the northbound lanes was struck by a truck hauling a forklift.
To limit impacts to Thruway motorists, this work is scheduled to take place on Saturday night into Sunday morning when traffic volumes are at their lowest. As a result, all northbound lanes north of exit 17 (Newburgh – Scranton – I-84 – NY Routes 17K and 300) will close at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, and are expected to remain closed for at least 12 hours. The northbound Thruway is expected to reopen the next morning, with traffic reduced from two travel lanes to one travel lane through the construction zone.
All northbound traffic will be detoured at exit 17 in Newburgh. The detour between the exits for traffic traveling northbound is 24 miles on local roads (see map). Motorists can follow the posted detour to I-84 east, where they will travel three miles to exit 39 and turn left onto Route 9W north. After approximately 16 miles, vehicles will turn left on westbound Route 299. They will travel five miles to reenter the Thruway at interchange 18 (New Paltz – Poughkeepsie – NY Route 299).
Motorists should expect reduced speeds on Routes 9W and 299 and may encounter heavy delays. Detour signs will be posted every two to three miles along the detour. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes to avoid this area altogether.
The Authority is coordinating with state, county, and local authorities on this operation. Authority officials have briefed TRANSCOM, a coalition of 16 transportation and public service agencies in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Tandem operators and trucking associations are also being notified of the impending closure.
Variable Message Signs on the Thruway and surrounding highways will advise motorists of the upcoming work, starting Tuesday, Jan 2.
Here’s what motorists and residents should expect on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 6: Read more »
Stay awake to ring in the new year with a FREE hot cup of Stewart’s coffee.
Stewart’s generous customers came through in a big way, helping the 2023 Holiday Match program raise more than $2 million for local children’s charities.
Local Veterans, come to Yandos in Skyway Plaza from 9 am-2 pm for a free holiday ham. Just bring proof of service. Happy Holidays!