The scheduled reopening of the Junius Ponds service area on the New York State Thruway between Exits 41 and 42 westbound has been delayed.
The plaza was to have reopened last month, but the Thruway Authority website now lists the reopening as scheduled for the third quarter of this year. The Citizen quotes the contractor, AES, as saying there have been “unforeseen delays” in construction. One of the issues cited is global supply chain difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related: Thruway Authority details $450M overhaul that will begin on rest stops this month: What can motorists expect?
The Thruway Authority closed 16 travel plazas in 2021 for renovations after the state signed a $450 million contract with Empire State Thruway Partners to operate the plazas for the next 33 years. The company is run by Applegreen, a British convenience store company. The deal includes new food options. The Junius Ponds plaza is slated to get an Applegreen Market store, a Shake Shack and a drive-through Starbucks.
Related: Shake Shack coming to two Finger Lakes Thruway plazas
Once the first phase of construction is complete, the remaining travel plazas will close for upgrades. The project is expected to be finished by 2023 or 2024.
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