New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the state had completed safety enhancements along Onondaga Lake Parkway in Onondaga County recently.
The enhancements in the village of Liverpool and the town of Salina are designed to prevent over-height vehicles from hitting the CSX low-clearance bridge in the county. The project was started in June 2023, and includes new LED Blank-Out signs with the message “No Trucks,” as well as an upgraded detection system. As of Monday, Feb. 16, over-height vehicle drivers who strike bridges across the state will have 8 points added to their driving record.
“Bridge strikes are a serious issue that require sensible safety solutions, and that’s exactly what we’re doing on the Onondaga Lake Parkway,” Hochul said. “These innovative new countermeasures being implemented, combined with new DMV regulations that go into effect next week, will further prevent bridge strikes along the Parkway, and make this highway safer for all users of the road.”
The upgrades included a second set of sensors for over-height vehicles in both directions, which requires a vehicle to interrupt both sets of beams, rather than just one, to confirm its height and trigger an alert. Officials said the beams work with embedded traffic sensors that prevent false alarms from birds or snow.
Two new permanent, full-color Variable Message Sign (VMS) boards have also been installed in both directions of the parkway and will also be triggered if an over-height vehicle is detected.
“No stone has been left unturned by the Department of Transportation when it comes to preventing bridge strikes along Onondaga Lake Parkway and across the state,” New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said. “While we remain steadfast in looking at every possible safety measure, we continue to emphasize the vital role that all drivers play in preventing bridge strikes — that includes professional commercial drivers to individuals renting a box truck for a weekend move. Before even setting foot into a truck cab, every driver should “Check Your Height, Know It’s Right.” This simple step will go a long way in solving this persistent public safety issue.”
Since implementing safety measures on the Onondaga Lake Parkway, the number of bridge strikes has fallen from a high of 11 in 2023 to 7 in 2024, and 8 in 2025.