The State of New York has announced a $66.4 million plan to repair and upgrade a stretch of the Thruway in Erie County.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that the work will entail the rehabilitation and reconstruction of three miles of roadway between Exit 54/West Seneca and the Lackawanna toll barrier.
New signs, wider shoulders and better guardrails will be installed. In addition, three Thruway bridges - Seneca Street, Cazenovia Creek, Potters Road and Smokes Creek - will be repaired and renovated and a fifth span - Norfolk Southern Railroad - will be totally rebuilt.
Oakgrove Construction of Elma has been awarded the contract. Cuomo's office said the stretch of Thruway is one of the busiest, with more than 130,000 motorists using the highway every day.
Shoulder and guardrail work will require some nightly lane closures from 7 p.m.-6 a.m. on the Thruway's eastbound lanes, before main construction begins in June. The project is expected to be completed next year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.