THRUWAY AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS AIMED AT PREVENTING BRIDGE STRIKES AND INCREASING SAFETY ON THE THRUWAY SYSTEM

During the Fourth Quarter of 2024, 7,300+ Violations Issued During 30 Enforcement Details Held in Partnership with the
NY State Police Along the Thruway System, Including 31 for Overheight Vehicles

56 Bridge Strikes Reported on Thruway Bridges in 2024 and 231 Over the Last Five Years

Overheight Detection Systems Installed at Two Thruway Park/Rest Areas in the Central New York

The New York State Thruway Authority today announced the results of a statewide commercial vehicle enforcement campaign on the 570-mile New York State Thruway system, designed to reduce bridge strikes caused by overheight vehicles and enhance the safety of all vehicles using the Thruway. The enforcement initiative was conducted in partnership with the New York State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU). During the months of October, November and December, 30 enforcement details were held in various regions along the Thruway leading to 7,301 violations issued including 31 for overheight vehicles.

Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said, "Bridge hits on the Thruway system are a safety issue and can cause considerable damage to our infrastructure resulting in countless delays for motorists and the diverting of critical resources from highway maintenance and upkeep. The law requires drivers to know the height of their vehicle to mitigate these avoidable incidents and with the increasing number of trucks on the roads, it's incumbent upon drivers to be vigilant to keep traffic moving. The Thruway Authority is committed to mitigating bridge hits and vigorously pursuing claims from motorists who damage Thruway property and equipment and inconvenience our customers."

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, "We will continue to work with our state agency partners to reduce the number of bridge hits, which can result in potential injury for the truck driver and nearby motorists, costly repairs to the bridge itself, and substantial traffic disruptions. Strong collaboration on education and enforcement is an effective way to raise awareness and improve safety for all."

Enforcement details were held in all four Thruway Authority Maintenance Divisions across the state during the fourth quarter of 2024. The results are as follow:

VIOLATION	AMOUNT
Commercial Vehicle Inspections	3,767
Out of Service Violations/Vehicles	997
Tickets Issued	7,301

Since 2020, there have been 231 bridge hits reported on the New York State Thruway's 570-mile system, including 56 reported bridge strikes in 2024. One of the most serious incidents included the South Broadway overpass in South Nyack, which was struck by an overheight tractor trailer on August 31, 2023. Due to the hit, all southbound lanes of I-87/I-287 were closed for 15 hours on Sept. 9 to facilitate the removal of two damaged girders to stabilize the overpass.

Since 2020, the three bridges on the NYS Thruway that have been hit the most are:

• Middle Black Brook Road at milepost 318.57 over I-90 in Seneca County. It has been hit 31 times - 16 times since 2023.
• North Grand Island Bridge Northbound on I-190 over the Niagara Scenic Parkway in Niagara County. It has been hit 23 times with eight hits in 2024 to date.
• South Broadway over I-87 at milepost 16.44 in Rockland County. It has been hit 14 times with three hits to date in 2024.

Bridge strikes are an issue that every state has to deal with, and over the last several years, the Thruway Authority and the State of New York have implemented measures and are using technologies aimed at preventing these incidents. The Thruway Authority's multi-pronged approach includes:

1. Education: Working withcommercial operators to facilitate special hauling permits because the responsibility lies with them. Each driver is required know the rules of the road - similar to the speed limit and other driving rules.
2. Signage and Awareness Campaigns - Utilizing awareness campaigns such as 'Know Your Height' on multiple platforms such as digital highway message boards, social media and the Thruway Authority's website.
3. Enforcement - Partnering with New York State Police and their Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit to carry out enforcement operations.
4. Increased Claims Recovery Efforts - The Thruway Authority's Claims Unit recovered approximately $9.4 million in 2024. For the past several years, the Authority has increased its vigilance in pursuing claims from motorists who damage Thruway property. The Claims Unit processes more than 1,000 property and equipment damage claims per year.
5. Ongoing Research - The Authority is constantly looking for ways to enhance communications and enforcement efforts through technology, partnerships, etc.

OVERHEIGHT VEHICLE DETECTION SYSTEM INSTALLED IN CENTRAL NEW YORK
By leveraging technology, the Thruway Authority launched a pilot program to install and implement an overheight vehicle detection system at two locations in Central New York. The systems were installed and activated in December 2024 at the Parking/Rest Areas located on I-90 eastbound at milepost 250 between exit 33 (Verona-Rome) and exit 32 (Westmoreland - Rome) and I-90 westbound at milepost 256 between exit 33 (Verona-Rome) and exit 34 (Canastota-Chittenango-Cazenovia-Oneida). When an overheight vehicle drives past the sensors, it triggers the system and a sign is illuminated warning the driver that their vehicle is overheight.

The New York State Thruway is part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Interstate Highway System and was originally built in the 1950s to the design standards of the time. The Authority maintains 817 bridges, many of which are original to the Thruway system when the minimum vertical clearance at that time was 14.2 feet. The Authority continues to improve various features such as vertical clearance when feasible and for any new bridge, the minimum vertical clearance is 16 feet.

According to NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law, the height of a vehicle from under side of tire to top of vehicle, inclusive of load, shall be not more than 13 feet, 6 inches. For anything above 13 feet, 6 inches, a Special Hauling Permit application is required for consideration to travel on the Thruway.

About the Thruway Authority

The Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway, built in the early 1950s, is one of the oldest components of the National Interstate Highway System and one of the longest toll roads in the nation. The maintenance and operation of the Thruway system is funded primarily by tolls. The Thruway Authority does not receive any dedicated federal, state or local tax dollars and is paid for by those who drive the Thruway, including one-third of drivers from out of state.

The Authority's approved 2025 Budget invests a total of $477.3 million in dedicated funding for capital projects across the Thruway system beginning in 2025, an increase of more than $33 million compared to the approved 2024 budget. The increased investment will lead to work on approximately 61 percent of the Thruway's more than 2,800 pavement lane miles as well as the replacement or rehabilitation of 20 percent of the Thruway's 817 bridges.

The Thruway is one of the safest roadways in the country with a fatality rate far below the nationwide index, and toll rates are among the lowest in the country compared to similar toll roads. The Thruway's base passenger vehicle toll rate is less than $0.05 per mile, compared to the Ohio Turnpike ($0.06 per mile), the New Jersey Turnpike ($0.12 to $0.32 per mile) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike ($0.15 per mile).

The Thruway Authority's top priority is the safety of our employees and customers. In 2024, two Thruway Authority employees died and another was seriously injured in separate incidents while working on the Thruway. The lives of Thruway Authority employees, roadway workers and emergency personnel depend on all of those who travel the highway. Motorists should stay alert and pay attention while driving, slow down in work zones and move over when they see a vehicle on the side of the road. The state's Move Over Law, which was expanded in March 2024, requires drivers to slow down and move over for all vehicles stopped along the roadway. Safety is a shared responsibility.

For more information, follow the Thruway on Facebook, X and Instagram, or visit the Thruway website.

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