On Monday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said New York had made significant progress on improving road, filling potholes and replacing or improving bridges across the state.
A $2.4 billion investment into the state’s transportation infrastructure has included more than 1,500 improved highway lane miles, 1.1 million filled potholes and more than 2,800 improved or replaced bridges during 2023.
“During this construction season, we put the pedal to the metal on our record-setting efforts to modernize New York’s transportation network and improve travel all across the state,” Hochul said. “These paving and bridge projects will provide motorists in every corner of this state with a smoother ride while also helping to ensure that our transportation network can be among the most resilient and sustainable in the nation.”
Hochul said the investments included $753 million on New York’s roadways, including state and local roads. More than 500 lane miles of improvements were funded through Hochul’s Pave Our Potholes program. Additionally, the New York State Department of Transportation replaced or improved 2,833 bridges statewide, representing a nearly $1.7 billion investment. Officials said the investment enhanced safety, improved sustainability and boosted resiliency against severe weather events.
Every region in the state saw improvement including 132 lane miles and 117 bridges in the Capital District; 177 lane miles and 320 bridges in the Finger Lakes; and 52 lane miles and 434 bridges in Central NY.
The improvements are part of a $32.8 billion, five-year State Capital Plan adopted in 2022 to fulfill Hochul’s vision for a modern transportation system. The New York State Thruway Authority reinvested $78.3 million in toll dollars to reconstruct or rehabilitates more than 160 lane miles of its system, as well as making significant safety enhancements like guiderail repairs, line striping, signage and drainage improvements.
“Governor Hochul continues to show her commitment to keeping all motorists in New York safe and connected by repairing and restoring our roads and bridges, making them ready to meet the challenges of the 21st-century,” New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said. “The improvements we made in 2023 will help make our transportation network more resilient and help ensure that New Yorkers can stay on the move as we confront the reality of climate change.”