Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study Aims to Develop Framework for Future Maintenance, Rehabilitation and Potential Reconstruction of Grand Island Bridges

Original Pair of Bridges Are Nearly 90 Years Old

The New York State Thruway Authority today announced it has been selected to receive a nearly $1.6 million planning grant to conduct a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study focused on the four Grand Island Bridges and the I-190 corridor. The grant is part of the Bridge Investment Program (BIP), which is funded through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Law.

“The original Grand Island Bridges were built in the 1930s and have become increasingly expensive to maintain due to both their age and structural complexity,” Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare, Esq. said. “This funding will allow the Thruway Authority to enhance the safety and improve the efficiency and reliability of the bridges for all who travel over them for generations to come.”

As part of the PEL study, the Thruway Authority will work with the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council which will analyze the bridges against regional transportation network’s current and future needs, investigate feasible project alternatives, study the existing social, economic and environmental conditions, perform a Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) and forecast future toll revenue.

The detailed analysis will be used to create a framework for future maintenance, rehabilitation and potential reconstruction activities in a cost-effective manner.
The Grand Island Bridges serve more than 47.5 million vehicles annually and are part of a vital commercial corridor that links an estimated $23.7 billion in US-Canada freight trade. They are also the only connection points between the 21,000 residents of Grand Island and the mainland.

Joanne M. Mahoney, Thruway Board of Directors Chairperson said, “The Thruway Authority’s Board of Directors supported the Authority’s leadership to explore more funding sources to maintain reasonable tolls and ensure financial sustainability. I am pleased to see the hard work and dedication of the Thruway staff resulting in the awarding of federal grants like this one, and I look forward to seeing more of these opportunities in the future.”

U.S. Congressman Timothy M. Kennedy said, “This funding builds on the recent game-changing federal investments in the Grand Island Bridges to strengthen our infrastructure and create good-paying union jobs in the process. These bridges, two dating back to 1935, are due for a much-needed upgrade. Now, development and planning can kick into full gear, restoring parts of the Grand Island Bridges and I-190 Corridor, making it safer and more efficient for travelers making roughly 13 million trips each year. Thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, our region is getting the resources it needs to keep people and goods safely moving on our roads and bridges.” 

In April 2024, the Thruway Authority was awarded $39 million in federal funding for infrastructure investments at the South Grand Island Bridges through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-saving Transportation, Efficient and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) program. The funding will be used to perform critical upgrades on the structures to make them more resistant to seismic loading caused by an earthquake.

ABOUT THE THRUWAY AUTHORITY
The Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway, built in the early 1950s, is one of the oldest components of the National Interstate Highway System and one of the longest toll roads in the nation. The maintenance and operation of the Thruway system is funded primarily by tolls. The Thruway Authority does not receive any dedicated federal, state, or local tax dollars and is paid for by those who drive the Thruway, including one-third of drivers from out of state. 
  
The Thruway is considered one of the safest roadways in the country with a fatality rate far below the nationwide index, and toll rates are among the lowest in the country compared to similar toll roads. The Thruway’s base passenger vehicle toll rate is less than $0.05 per mile, compared to the Ohio Turnpike ($0.06 per mile), the New Jersey Turnpike ($0.11 and $0.31 per mile) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike ($0.14 per mile).The Authority’s 2024 Budget invests a total of $451 million to support its Capital Program, which is expected to invest $2.4 billion into capital projects over the next five years—a $500 million increase following the recently enacted toll adjustment. The increased investment will lead to work on approximately half of the Thruway’s more than 2,800 lane miles as well as projects on approximately 90 of Thruway’s 817 bridges.  
  
For up-to-date travel information, motorists are encouraged to download the mobile app which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic and navigation assistance while on the go. Travelers can also visit the Thruway Authority's interactive Traveler Map  which features live traffic cameras. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert  e-mails, which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway. 
  
For more information, follow the Thruway on Facebook, X and Instagram, or visit our website. 

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