A bridge carrying about 2,000 vehicles a day over the New York State Thruway in Saugerties has closed for replacement and is expected to remain shut until fall 2026.
The Malden Turnpike bridge closed to all traffic last week, as construction began on an $8.2 million project to replace the 78-year-old structure with a new span designed to improve safety and reduce bridge strikes, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.
The new bridge, over the Thruway at milepost 103.16, is expected to last 75 years and will include two 11-foot travel lanes, 5-foot shoulders, a smoother riding surface, new bridge railings, and an additional 2 feet 4 inches of vertical clearance.
“When our roads and bridges are upgraded, we improve the driving experience for daily commuters and the commercial vehicles that New York relies on to move goods and services throughout our state and across the nation,” Hochul said in a statement.
A signed seven-mile detour is in place. Drivers heading to Malden Turnpike are being routed via Route 32 south to Route 212, then to Main Street and U.S. Route 9W north back to Malden Turnpike. Officials said motorists may also encounter lane closures nearby during construction.
The Thruway Authority said it coordinated with emergency responders, law enforcement, fire departments, and local schools ahead of the closure. Up-to-date travel information is available through the Thruway Authority’s mobile app, traveler map, and TRANSalert system.
“We thank Governor Hochul and the NYS Thruway Authority for making this major investment to replace the Malden Turnpike Bridge and improve safety and reliability of this important connector to Saugerties and the Catskill region of Ulster County,” Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said in a statement. “Projects like this strengthen our infrastructure and ensure that Ulster County remains safe, accessible, and prepared for the future.”
The bridge project is part of the Thruway Authority’s approved $600 million 2026 budget for capital contracts and its five-year capital plan, which calls for the replacement or preservation of 150 of the system’s 819 bridges and resurfacing of more than 1,500 lane miles of highway.
Mia Quick is an editorial assistant at The Overlook. Send correspondence to mia@theoverlooknews.com.