NYSDOT Issues Route 12 North Bridge Ramp Closure Alert

Utica, NY (WIBX) - A bridge construction project slated to begin next week will mean the closure of the ramp bridge carrying Route 12 North across the New York State Thruway to Route 49 West. Utica Regional Office Officials with the Department of Transportation say the project is to repair the ramp, which will be closed for five weeks beginning Monday September 12.

Motorist heading northbound on Route 12 to get to Route 49 West towards Rome will follow detour signs to North Genesee Street. A temporary traffic signal will also be installed to help facilitate traffic flow through the area. For 24/7 up-to-date traffic and travel information, travelers should dial 511, or visit www.511ny.org.

"The project will undertake necessary repairs to the backwall of the bridge over the Thruway. Under the same project, the contractor will also complete resurfacing work on all of the ramps in this traffic interchange, to improve surface skid resistance. The resurfacing work will not require any further ramp closures, however traffic will be reduced to single lanes of travel once that phase of the project gets underway, which is not expected to begin until the final week of the five week ramp closure. At that time, an additional traveler advisory will be issued with more specific information on the resurfacing project schedule.

Work is being completed on the project under a $680,282 contract with Economy Paving, Inc. of Cortland, N.Y. The contract was let in July and awarded on August 3, 2011. Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual's driver's license."