Aerial view of current Route 17 Exit 131 in Harriman
HARRIMAN – Top state officials Wednesday laid out plans for the
$150 million “hub Interchange project” at the intersection
of the Thruway and routes 17 and 32 in Harriman.
Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew Driscoll called it a “very,
very big project” that will start immediately using the design-build
concept.
Governor Cuomo told area public officials and union members at the IBEW
hall that the project is 20 years overdue. He called the current interchange
that includes the Woodbury Common outlet mall “a nightmare.”
The new project, that will take five years to complete, will include a
divergent diamond interchange, replacing the Route 32 bridge, a new underpass
beneath Route 32, a bike and pedestrian corridor, a new Woodbury Common
access point, a new access road for the Monroe-Woodbury schools, and 200
parking and rise spaces.
Senator William Larkin, left, chats
with Gov. Andrew Cuomo
at the Harriman event
It will also include cashless tolling on the Thruway at Woodbury-Harriman
and solar panels at the toll and maintenance facilities to keep electricity
costs down.
The governor received accolades from Senator William Larkin and Assemblywoman
Aileen Gunther who both said it was being accomplished due to his efforts.
Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus said the project “has lingered
and been studied long enough.” He said the construction “will
not only ease historic congestion issues, but will also allow us to continue
to market this economically vital corridor for future planned growth and
sustainable development.”
