The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the Office of General Services recently broke ground on a $150.5 million, 114,500-square-foot materials testing facility at the W. Averell Harriman State Office Building Campus in Albany.
The facility will replace NYSDOT’s Central Testing Laboratory’s more than 60-years-old facilities. The lab performs approximately 100,000 tests annually on materials used on transportation projects to ensure materials meet state and federal quality and performance standards. The new lab will increase the ability to sustainably test and certify that the products and materials used on New York’s roads and bridges are safe and durable.
“The baseline of a safe transportation system begins and ends with the work that is performed every day in our Central Laboratory, and breaking ground on this new facility is a critical step in ensuring the safety of our roads and bridges for generations to come,” Marie Therese Dominguez, Department of Transportation commissioner, said.
Currently, facilities are spread across two outdated buildings. The new lab will consolidate the facilities into one location, accommodate new testing equipment, and allow the ability to expand and enhance critical activities.
The facility is expected to be completed in fall 2029. The Federal Highway Administration requires each state to have an accredited central state laboratory.