Thruway rest stops will close for renovation; major overhaul will be completed by 2023-24

Rest stops along the New York State Thruway are getting a much needed overhaul in the coming months. The work will soon begin after the Thruway Authority approved a proposal to rebuild, renovate, and run the service areas along the Thruway.

The contract is good for 33 years, according to News10NBC, who looked into how the work will be done, as well as the stakes for those that work at the rest stops.

First-and-foremost, there is no cost to taxpayers for the overhaul. Even though it comes with a $450 million price tag, that is the value of the contract agreed to between Empire State Thruway Partners and the Thruway Authority.

Empire is leasing the property from the Thruway Authority to overhaul, then operate the properties.

Hundreds of employees across the various rest areas were told that they would lose their jobs this summer. While there is some work being done to hire back those workers by the new operators- there isn’t anything guaranteed. Especially since there will be time between closure and reopening.

News10NBC reports that construction will begin at 16 plazas this summer, then the remaining 11 plazas that aren’t renovated this year- will be part of 2023 schedule.

Staff Report

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