CATSKILL — Motorists crossing the Rip Van Winkle Bridge between Hudson and Catskill have encountered a new traffic pattern on the Greene County side of the bridge.
Construction in the area of the former toll plazas has redirected the westbound lane straight, instead of bearing right, once the driver reaches the Catskill side of the bridge.
Temporary orange construction barrels and traffic cones line both sides of the westbound lane.
Construction crews are working in the area where the westbound lane used to be.
The road construction is the final phase of the Cashless Tolling plan, said Chris Steber, public information officer for the New York State Bridge Authority.
Sensors and cameras on overhead electronic gantries were installed late last summer. The equipment reads the vehicle’s E-ZPass or takes a photograph of the car’s license plate. The owner of the vehicle and will send the driver a bill in the mail.
At midnight last Nov. 1, the Rip Van Winkle Bridge went completely cashless. The Rip Van Winkle Bridge tollbooths, which had been in operation since 2003, were removed overnight Nov. 3.
The scheduled roadwork, began in late spring, and first occurred in areas that were not affecting the flow of traffic. In late June, the construction moved into areas that would affect traffic, and some motorists have encountered periodic delays.
Alternating traffic will be created throughout the project on an as-needed basis between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Steber said.
The alternating traffic pattern is put into place when the contractor needs to do so, Steber said.
Should the contractor complete a construction task early, they will resume two-way traffic earlier than 3:00 p.m., Steber said.
The general contractor on the toll plaza rehab project for the Rip Van Winkle, Kingston-Rhinecliff and Mid-Hudson bridges is A. Colarusso & Son, Inc., based in Hudson, Steber said.
Bridge officials expect the toll plaza rehabilitation project to be fully completed by the end of September on all three spans, although completion dates at individual bridges will vary, Steber said.
Substantial completion of the work on the Rip Van Winkle Bridge is anticipated by mid-August, weather permitting, Steber said.
“Once the project is finished, drivers will not only have a more timely ride across the bridge, but a more seamless one as well,” Steber said.
The Rip Van Winkle Bridge was opened to the public July 2, 1935, and connects Greene and Columbia counties, crossing the Hudson River.