Thruway and Cuomo Bridge reopen after being closed for overpass repair

Mike Randall, Middletown Times Herald- Record
·1 min read
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The southbound Thruway in eastern Rockland, including the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, reopened late Saturday afternoon, more than 16 hours after it was closed to allow repairs to an overpass.

The interstate highway reopened just before 4:30 p.m. It had closed at midnight.

The New York State Thruway Authority had announced the closure less than 30 hours before it was scheduled to happen, meaning many motorists would be unaware of the situation until they came upon it.

Vehicles traveling south, right hand side, on the New York State Thruway, go under the South Broadway bridge in South Nyack, pictured Sept. 8, 2023. The bridge was damaged in a bridge strike last week. (Mark Vergari/The Journal News)
Vehicles traveling south, right hand side, on the New York State Thruway, go under the South Broadway bridge in South Nyack, pictured Sept. 8, 2023. The bridge was damaged in a bridge strike last week. (Mark Vergari/The Journal News)

The overpass was badly damaged Aug. 31 when it was hit by an overheight truck. The tractor trailer was transporting a cylindrical steel tower. The truck's load exceeded the Thruway's height limit by about five inches.

On Friday night, the Thruway Authority began closing lanes of southbound traffic at 8 p.m. At midnight, all southbound traffic closed at exits 10, 11 (Nyack), 12 and 13 (Palisades Interstate Parkway). Traffic was diverted at Exit 12, so unsuspecting traffic heading toward the bridge had to get off at the Palisades Center in West Nyack.

Rockland County Office of Fire & Emergency Services Director Chris Kear told The Journal News/lohud Friday that there had been communication among local police, the Thruway, state troopers and emergency staff around the region. "All the players in the game that might be affected by this closure," he said.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, Poughkeepsie Journal and The Journal News/lohud. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @mikerandall845.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Thruway, Cuomo bridge reopens Saturday afternoon after repairs