New York

[cl94]

Although the new bridge is getting more lanes than the existing bridge, is there room to add additional lanes to the bridge's approaches?

They'll be widening it from the LIE on the north side to the first exit on the south side. They can't widen too far south without taking out a bunch of houses. Honestly, making the bridge wider should do wonders, as that's the choke point.

[Alps]

Although the new bridge is getting more lanes than the existing bridge, is there room to add additional lanes to the bridge's approaches?

Right now you have quite a bit of merge heading westbound. That'll be cleared up. Eastbound you get the lane added from the surface streets, and it carries through to the LIE. There will be a lot better lane balance.

[cl94]

Although the new bridge is getting more lanes than the existing bridge, is there room to add additional lanes to the bridge's approaches?

Right now you have quite a bit of merge heading westbound. That'll be cleared up. Eastbound you get the lane added from the surface streets, and it carries through to the LIE. There will be a lot better lane balance.

Isn't it going to be 5 WB and 4 EB? That changes the 3 -> 1 merge from the LIE to a weave, which, while tighter than it could be, will do wonders for preventing the 24/7 backup on the WB side of the bridge.

[Alps]

Although the new bridge is getting more lanes than the existing bridge, is there room to add additional lanes to the bridge's approaches?

Right now you have quite a bit of merge heading westbound. That'll be cleared up. Eastbound you get the lane added from the surface streets, and it carries through to the LIE. There will be a lot better lane balance.

Isn't it going to be 5 WB and 4 EB? That changes the 3 -> 1 merge from the LIE to a weave, which, while tighter than it could be, will do wonders for preventing the 24/7 backup on the WB side of the bridge.

Cor, I don't remember, I only designed the damn thing. One of the directions has a 2-lane through route and 3-lane C-D road but I could swear that was eastbound - which is the bridge that is being built now and will open right away. The future westbound bridge, not part of the current contract (they are going to wait to see how traffic does and then see if they can fund it), will be the 4 laner.

[Michael]

Last night, I found a couple interesting videos on YouTube.  This one is a precast deck section being lifted into place on the I-690 westbound bridge over North Salina Street in Syracuse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02R_LPTDsiI

This one is the demolition of the old I-81/NY 17 bridges over the Chenango River in Binghamton from several different angles.  It was taken by the company that did the explosives on the bridges:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZwJoUe3GyI

[route17fan]

More state line signage being placed -

https://www.dot.ny.gov/doing-business/opportunities/const-notices

D263278, D263279, D263280, and D263281 in each supplemental information link has the updated state line sign (white on blue) with I (heart) NY app information, and what looks to be a new independent sign for NY Parks, stating "New York Outdoor Recreation" (in all caps)

Also, "New York" in mixed case Raavi Bold.

[machias]

More state line signage being placed -

https://www.dot.ny.gov/doing-business/opportunities/const-notices

D263278, D263279, D263280, and D263281 in each supplemental information link has the updated state line sign (white on blue) with I (heart) NY app information, and what looks to be a new independent sign for NY Parks, stating "New York Outdoor Recreation" (in all caps)

Also, "New York" in mixed case Raavi Bold.

These are the signs I saw on the Thruway and the lighter blue portions look badly faded.  I think they've been up two weeks.  Not a good design at all.

[cl94]

NYSTA added another one of those things these south of Exit 23. Again, I don't know why.

[Jim]

NYSTA added another one of those things these south of Exit 23. Again, I don't know why.

I've been on the Thruway a lot in the last few weeks, and each time there seems to be a new collection of these things popping up.  I don't think the ones in the Syracuse area were there a few weeks ago, and were this week.

[cl94]

Looking at some of the locations for these, the blue signs often replace brand new "state of opportunity" signs. What a waste.

[Buffaboy]

Yeah every time o get on the Thruway now around Buffalo they're all over the place. There are smaller versions of signs that don't really tell drivers much and act almost as billboards for the governor's pet projects like the wine country stuff and TasteNY™...

[machias]

NYSTA added another one of those things these south of Exit 23. Again, I don't know why.

I've been on the Thruway a lot in the last few weeks, and each time there seems to be a new collection of these things popping up.  I don't think the ones in the Syracuse area were there a few weeks ago, and were this week.

They're being installed betweens Thruway exits 31 and 32. At least, I'm pretty sure as there are sign post mounts for several signs in succession.  In speaking with friends that work at NYSDOT R2, apparently they're going up on the NYSDOT freeways in Utica-Rome area as well.

[machias]

Yeah every time o get on the Thruway now around Buffalo they're all over the place. There are smaller versions of signs that don't really tell drivers much and act almost as billboards for the governor's pet projects like the wine country stuff and TasteNY™...

I completely agree that these are nothing more than legislated billboards mounted close to the road. Frivolous waste.

[kalvado]

Yeah every time o get on the Thruway now around Buffalo they're all over the place. There are smaller versions of signs that don't really tell drivers much and act almost as billboards for the governor's pet projects like the wine country stuff and TasteNY™...

I completely agree that these are nothing more than legislated billboards mounted close to the road. Frivolous waste.

I've seen a bunch of blue signs advertizing I love NY app. No information at all.
SOmething like this:

[cl94]

The one south of 23 is basically a welcome sign. I'm trying to figure out how they're going to put the succession on NY 2. There's a cliff on the right side.

[amroad17]

Whatever happened to...

     Welcome to
     NEW YORK

  The Empire State

Not "jazzy" enough?  Boring?

It would look good on a blue sign.

Leave the apps and websites for the rest areas and service areas.  The old welcome signs have to be better than this.

[noelbotevera]

Whatever happened to...

     Welcome to
     NEW YORK

  The Empire State

Not "jazzy" enough?  Boring?

It would look good on a blue sign.

Leave the apps and websites for the rest areas and service areas.  The old welcome signs have to be better than this.

I'd love it if the governor's name was still on it. It'd be even better with button copy.

[kkt]

I don't like governors' names on public works projects.  It makes it look like they paid for it personally or that the public works project would never have happened without them, which is rarely the case.  Let them pay for their own reelection propaganda.

[Jim]

I was disappointed to see on my way to Albany today that there is now a series of those silly signs on the Thruway EB approaching 25.  They weren't there as of last week.  You know, I'd be tempted to download their silly app if the existence of these signs didn't bother me so much.  I think the ones coming up on 25 are especially bad as they're interspersed with existing (meaningful) signs that are already pretty densely clustered.

[Roadgeek Adam]

Given where they've popped up: 23, 24, 50, 53, among others, there is clearly a reason they have it on the Thruway at exits in the main cities.

[vdeane]

IMO if the Thruway is signing all this stuff they can sign county line signs.  Seriously.  They're proving themselves to be hypocrites with every single one of these signs they erect.  Does I <3 NY use county names?  Because it would be really ironic if they did.

[kalvado]

IMO if the Thruway is signing all this stuff they can sign county line signs.  Seriously.  They're proving themselves to be hypocrites with every single one of these signs they erect.  Does I <3 NY use county names?  Because it would be really ironic if they did.

problem is that county lines may be somewhat useful. Sign needs to be completely useless to get admitted to Thruway mainline.

[cl94]

IMO if the Thruway is signing all this stuff they can sign county line signs.  Seriously.  They're proving themselves to be hypocrites with every single one of these signs they erect.  Does I <3 NY use county names?  Because it would be really ironic if they did.

problem is that county lines may be somewhat useful. Sign needs to be completely useless to get admitted to Thruway mainline.

Let's see, every state line, every airport, every major city...

[kalvado]

IMO if the Thruway is signing all this stuff they can sign county line signs.  Seriously.  They're proving themselves to be hypocrites with every single one of these signs they erect.  Does I <3 NY use county names?  Because it would be really ironic if they did.

problem is that county lines may be somewhat useful. Sign needs to be completely useless to get admitted to Thruway mainline.

Let's see, every state line, every airport, every major city...

Every watershed, every Erie canal crossing...
BGS are in a different group, apparently. But looks like there is no reasonable system.

[D-Dey65]

Yeah every time o get on the Thruway now around Buffalo they're all over the place. There are smaller versions of signs that don't really tell drivers much and act almost as billboards for the governor's pet projects like the wine country stuff and TasteNY™...

I completely agree that these are nothing more than legislated billboards mounted close to the road. Frivolous waste.

I've seen a bunch of blue signs advertizing I love NY app. No information at all.
SOmething like this:

Funny, that looks more like a "Path Through History" sign with the app ad on the bottom to me. They have these at any sites where they have something historic.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orient_Historic_District_sign_on_NY_25.JPG
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oysterponds_Historical_Society-4.JPG

They even have them at Subway stations:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grand_Concourse_HD_Path_Through_History_@_167th_Street-Jerome.JPG