Parts of the New York State Thruway Closing This Week

The New York State Thruway Authority has announced that a section of the Thruway will fully shut down to all traffic this week.

If you are planning to travel this weekend and expect to be driving on the New York State Thruway motorists need to be aware of a major closure that will take place on Saturday, May 18th through Sunday, May 19th.

New York State Thruway Closing Southbound Lanes

To prevent any surprises for motorists the New York State Thruway Authority has announced that the southbound lanes of the Thruway (I-87) from exit 21 (Catskill - Cairo - NY Route 23) to exit 20 (Saugerties - Woodstock - NY Route 32) will fully shut down to all traffic starting at 11 p.m. Saturday, May 18th through approximately 7 a.m. Sunday, May 19th. The southbound lanes will be closed during these hours to allow roadcrews to perform pavement repairs on two crossover sections on the road as part of the $9.3 million project to preserve bridges on I-87 in Greene County, New York.

SEE ALSO: New York Thruway Authority Worker Killed in Work Zone Identified

The southbound lane closures are weather permitting. The northbound lanes will remain open.

New York State Thruway Detour This Weekend

Motorists should seek alternate routes while this work takes place or avoid travel in the area during these times, if possible but if you find yourself driving during the hours mentioned above the NYS Thruway Authority will divert all southbound traffic off the Thruway at exit 21. Once off the Thruway motorists should follow the posted detour signs to Route 23 West, travel six miles, and then turn left onto Route 32 South. After approximately 16 miles, vehicles should turn left to reenter the Thruway at exit 20. The posted detour is approximately 23 miles long according to a NYSTA press release.

Motorists should expect slower-than-normal speeds on Routes 23 and 32 during the closure and should plan on encountering delays.