New York State Thruway

[Sam]

commercial purpose of the vehicle, not necessarily its physical characteristics.

One reason I heard for the change  allowing passenger registrations on pickup trucks was that so many had become "family cars" with no business ties at all. Families were paying more to register a compact pickup than a heavier full-size car, and still being excluded from the LOSP on their weekend camping trips to Hamlin Beach, etc.

I think the Thruway charged by axle, so pickups and cars paid the same toll regardless of reg type, but I think you couldn't get a commuter permit on a pickup because of the commercial reg, even if it was your personal "car".

[Sam]

Somewhere I once found a list of the official names of each segment of the Thruway system. In addition to the Niagara and Berkshire sections, there is a Mohawk Trail, Iroquois Path, etc. I'd love to be able to find that again.

Found it! Starts on page 5.

http://www.thruway.ny.gov/about/compliance/thruwaystatutes.pdf

[vdeane]

The Ontario section should be called "the boring section".

[Duke87]

I think the Thruway charged by axle, so pickups and cars paid the same toll regardless of reg type, but I think you couldn't get a commuter permit on a pickup because of the commercial reg, even if it was your personal "car".

The Thruway still charges by axle. At least, a Uhaul van pays the same cash toll as a car at the New Rochelle toll plaza. This has been confirmed empirically.

MTA meanwhile charges double the car toll to cross one of their bridges in the same vehicle. And you have to pay the highly inflated cash rate since you can't use your EZpass tag in there (different vehicle class).

[Alps]

MTA meanwhile charges double the car toll to cross one of their bridges in the same vehicle. And you have to pay the highly inflated cash rate since you can't use your EZpass tag in there (different vehicle class).

Who would know?

[Duke87]

MTA meanwhile charges double the car toll to cross one of their bridges in the same vehicle. And you have to pay the highly inflated cash rate since you can't use your EZpass tag in there (different vehicle class).

Who would know?

Any one of the several cops walking around at every MTA toll plaza? I wasn't going to risk getting a ticket over $10 in toll money.

That said it looks like you can request a van tag on your existing account. In fact you can request a tag for any type of vehicle that doesn't require a CDL to drive without creating a separate account for it. Okay, good to know for next time.

[Buffaboy]

Went on the Thruway yesterday from exit 31 to 55, first time in a while. Here are some thoughts:

• I saw the scenic Heritage Park near Pt. Byron, but it's on the EB side
• It may be just me, but I saw some bridges that looked "new", esp. near Syracuse. Have they been built in the past 6-8 months?
• I also saw a few bridges torn down for replacement near Rochester, specifically Bergen Road (and I forgot the other)
• West of Syracuse, for about 10-15 miles it's a concrete roadbed. Why is that?
• There's construction going on at the Williamsville barrier and it's been holding up traffic for a while
• Saw the cantilever tube pylon installed under the former Cleveland Dr. bridge, it looks very different for the Thruway

[yanksfan6129]

Went on the Thruway yesterday from exit 31 to 55, first time in a while. Here are some thoughts:

• West of Syracuse, for about 10-15 miles it's a concrete roadbed. Why is that?

That section of Thruway was reconstructed around 2010 or 2011, if my memory serves.

[cl94]

Went on the Thruway yesterday from exit 31 to 55, first time in a while. Here are some thoughts:

• West of Syracuse, for about 10-15 miles it's a concrete roadbed. Why is that?

That section of Thruway was reconstructed around 2010 or 2011, if my memory serves.

Correct

[Buffaboy]

Went on the Thruway yesterday from exit 31 to 55, first time in a while. Here are some thoughts:

• West of Syracuse, for about 10-15 miles it's a concrete roadbed. Why is that?

That section of Thruway was reconstructed around 2010 or 2011, if my memory serves.

Correct

Do you think the monotube cantilevers will be the preferred type of gantry for the NYTA?

[cl94]

Went on the Thruway yesterday from exit 31 to 55, first time in a while. Here are some thoughts:

• West of Syracuse, for about 10-15 miles it's a concrete roadbed. Why is that?

That section of Thruway was reconstructed around 2010 or 2011, if my memory serves.

Correct

Do you think the monotube cantilevers will be the preferred type of gantry for the NYTA?

Exit 50 is likely a test case, as I have not seen any more in plans at this time. It might be a one-and-done, might not. When I start my summer job, I might learn more about what's going on with that.

[route17fan]

Went on the Thruway yesterday from exit 31 to 55, first time in a while. Here are some thoughts:

• West of Syracuse, for about 10-15 miles it's a concrete roadbed. Why is that?

To quote many a New York roadgeek - I think the short answer to that is because it's consistently inconsistent.

Another example of that is NY 17/I-86 near Newtown Battlefield is new concrete as well. Another thread to be sure, but another example of random new surfacing.

[cl94]

Went on the Thruway yesterday from exit 31 to 55, first time in a while. Here are some thoughts:

• West of Syracuse, for about 10-15 miles it's a concrete roadbed. Why is that?

To quote many a New York roadgeek - I think the short answer to that is because it's consistently inconsistent.

Another example of that is NY 17/I-86 near Newtown Battlefield is new concrete as well. Another thread to be sure, but another example of random new surfacing.

That's concrete because the entire thing was realigned 4-5 years ago when they removed the at-grade intersections.

[route17fan]

understood - I was just pointing out that it was new (and very very smooth) concrete just like the thruway section. 

[route17fan]

Went on the Thruway yesterday from exit 31 to 55, first time in a while. Here are some thoughts:

• West of Syracuse, for about 10-15 miles it's a concrete roadbed. Why is that?

I guess, now that I think about it, is that a better example is that section between Rochester (45) and is it 43 (?) that also happens to be concrete...just because.    it also keeps it on topic.

[cl94]

Went on the Thruway yesterday from exit 31 to 55, first time in a while. Here are some thoughts:

• West of Syracuse, for about 10-15 miles it's a concrete roadbed. Why is that?

I guess, now that I think about it, is that a better example is that section between Rochester (45) and is it 43 (?) that also happens to be concrete...just because.    it also keeps it on topic.

A really good example of that is a ~75 ft rough concrete section on the SB side of I-190/Niagara Spur between Exit 1 and I-90. Why it wasn't overlain with asphalt like the surrounding 1/2 mile or so remains a mystery to me. Reversing it, there's a ~0.9 mile asphalt section of I-190 in the middle of a 14 mile stretch of concrete surface just north of downtown Buffalo.

Then you have the reconstructed section of the mainline SW of Hamburg. The northern/eastern half of the EB side in this area is concrete with asphalt shoulders, while the rest of the project area, including the entire WB side, is asphalt.

At this point, I'm convinced NYSTA just picks surfacing material out of a hat, because there's no consistency, even within the same project.

[route17fan]

Excellent point - I forgot about 190   

[froggie]

I think a few people were missing /quote tags.  Hard to tell who wrote what...

[vdeane]

A really good example of that is a ~75 ft rough concrete section on the SB side of I-190/Niagara Spur between Exit 1 and I-90. Why it wasn't overlain with asphalt like the surrounding 1/2 mile or so remains a mystery to me. Reversing it, there's a ~0.9 mile asphalt section of I-190 in the middle of a 14 mile stretch of concrete surface just north of downtown Buffalo.

I assume that's because those sections are located at the former Buffalo and Black Rock barriers.

[cl94]

A really good example of that is a ~75 ft rough concrete section on the SB side of I-190/Niagara Spur between Exit 1 and I-90. Why it wasn't overlain with asphalt like the surrounding 1/2 mile or so remains a mystery to me. Reversing it, there's a ~0.9 mile asphalt section of I-190 in the middle of a 14 mile stretch of concrete surface just north of downtown Buffalo.

I assume that's because those sections are located at the former Buffalo and Black Rock barriers.

Nope. The odd concrete section is under a bridge on the side opposite the barrier and the odd asphalt section is around Exit 8. Buffalo barrier was overlain and the Black Rock barrier got a new concrete roadbed.

[Buffaboy]

Went on the Thruway yesterday from exit 31 to 55, first time in a while. Here are some thoughts:

• West of Syracuse, for about 10-15 miles it's a concrete roadbed. Why is that?

I guess, now that I think about it, is that a better example is that section between Rochester (45) and is it 43 (?) that also happens to be concrete...just because.    it also keeps it on topic.

A really good example of that is a ~75 ft rough concrete section on the SB side of I-190/Niagara Spur between Exit 1 and I-90. Why it wasn't overlain with asphalt like the surrounding 1/2 mile or so remains a mystery to me. Reversing it, there's a ~0.9 mile asphalt section of I-190 in the middle of a 14 mile stretch of concrete surface just north of downtown Buffalo.

Then you have the reconstructed section of the mainline SW of Hamburg. The northern/eastern half of the EB side in this area is concrete with asphalt shoulders, while the rest of the project area, including the entire WB side, is asphalt.

At this point, I'm convinced NYSTA just picks surfacing material out of a hat, because there's no consistency, even within the same project.

There is concrete right outside of Hamburg? I'm guessing it goes to 57b. Must've been added within the past couple of years, because I remember the reconstruction was going on but I thought it was just going to be asphalt.

It really is "consistently inconsistent."

[vdeane]

The limits of a specific paving job and the type of project (simple resurfacing, major rehabilitation, full depth reconstruction) is determined largely by the surface crack rating and funding, as is the type of pavement to be selected.  After many decades of projects being done, it certainly can appear random, especially since projects spanning entire corridors are becoming more and more rare as NYSDOT and NYSTA are currently in "preservation mode".

[vdeane]

Just visited the canal park in Port Byron today...




More pics/full size on the bottom of my I-90 page: http://nysroads.com/photos.php?route=i90&state=NY

[cl94]

Alright, I've got the monotube shot:



As you can see, the Cleveland Drive overpass is gone (the assembly is immediately before where the overpass was/will be). Clearview, Interstate shield is Series C FHWA (thankfully...NYSTA has Clearview numerals a few exits down). Ramp splits away at the sign, so the sign is in error by not having upward-slanting arrows to the right and no mention is made of this being the last free exit, the latter of which was on the sign it replaced. Sorry for the bad picture, but I was driving and it was raining when I took it.

It might look like something straight out of Pennsylvania but, unfortunately, this is a good 70 miles from the PA border.

[Buffaboy]

Great picture, I saw it I think the day it went up actually; I was coming home from school a few weeks ago, but it was blocked by oncoming traffic and construction equipment preparing to tear down the bridge.

Also vdeane, can you actually drive through the heritage canal lock? That would be insane and definitely a must see when I go back.