Two New Bridges Between Exits 26 & 28 in Pleasantville Improve Resiliency Against Severe Weather Events

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that major construction has been completed on two new bridges that carry the Saw Mill River Parkway over the Saw Mill River in the Village of Pleasantville, Westchester County. Located between Exits 26 & 28 on the parkway, the new bridges and a newly stabilized 1.3-mile stretch of the roadbed adjacent to the two structures will enhance safety and improve resiliency along a vital commuter artery that provides access to the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge and the New York State Thruway which has been prone to flooding during heavy rains. The work, which cost approximately $38 million, was done as part of an ongoing, $115 million project to replace or renovate several bridges in lower Westchester County to better withstand severe weather events and improve travel throughout the busy corridor.

"Westchester County commuters are all-too-familiar with the Saw Mill River Parkway's history of flooding during major rainstorms and the associated travel headaches," Governor Hochul said. "With the completion of these two new bridges, we are writing a new chapter in the history of the Saw Mill - making it more resilient to severe weather and strengthening this vital travel artery for decades to come."

Begun in the summer of 2020, the project replaced the two bridges that were built in 1930 with modern, single span, steel girder bridges that are several feet higher than the original structures and better able to withstand floods. The adjacent roadway, which had been prone to settling, was stabilized with nearly 5000 wood piles that were driven into a more solid ground layer. New, higher capacity drainage systems were also added to accommodate storm water runoff. During construction, asphalt from the original bridges was recycled and used on the road deck for the new bridges and native vegetation species were planted to help beautify and protect the landscape.

As part of the larger Lower Westchester Bridge Bundle, the New York State Department of Transportation also replaced the East Lincoln Avenue bridge over the Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River in the Village of Pelham and City of Mount Vernon, and is in the process of replacing the U.S. Route 1 bridge over Mamaroneck River in Mamaroneck. These projects, which focus on drainage improvements and the reconstruction of roadways prone to flooding, will enhance safety and improve the region's resiliency during storm events. The overall project is expected to be complete by the end of 2023.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, "Governor Hochul understands the critical role that infrastructure plays in the well-being of a community and how important it is that we build it back better to confront the ever-growing threat posed by climate change. By enhancing the resilience of our transportation network with strategic investments like this in Westchester County, we help keep people and goods on the move regardless of the impacts of severe weather."

State Senator Jamaal Bailey said, "Resilient transportation networks are critical to building thriving communities. The completion of the bridge replacement project on Saw Mill River Parkway is a milestone for Westchester county. This project, in addition to the ongoing bridge renovation projects throughout Westchester, will help address decades of flooding and drainage issues that have long plagued commuters and help bring our transportation infrastructure into a new era of improved resiliency and safety for commuters. I want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul, the New York State Department of Transportation, and our State and County partners for their dedication to the successful completion of this project."

State Senator Shelley Mayer said, "I am pleased by today's announcement that the Governor's Bridge Replacement Project on the Saw Mill River Parkway has been completed and that work is now underway to upgrade the US Route 1 bridge in my district in the Village of Mamaroneck. Safety and flood resiliency are top priorities in all of our communities, and our bridges and roadways need to be upgraded to deal with the real challenge of increased flooding. I appreciate that Governor Hochul and the Department of Transportation are investing in these improvements throughout Westchester, where roadway flooding remains a persistent problem. I thank the Commissioner and staff of the New York Department of Transportation and everyone who worked on these projects for their efforts to ensure these bridges are safe and resilient for the people of Westchester and New York State."

Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky said, "With the completion of the bridge replacement project, New York State has addressed a historically flood-prone stretch of the Saw Mill River Parkway, to help the people of Pleasantville and all those traveling through the area. Construction was long and difficult for the people who use the Parkway as well as the residents in the area, but the new bridges and newly stabilized road surface will make their lives better. This project is a great example of the type of investments we must continue to make, to rebuild our infrastructure in a way that is climate resilient and environmentally sound. I commend Governor Hochul's administration and the Department of Transportation for their commitment to upgrading the aging infrastructure in my district and throughout our region."

Assemblymember J. Gary Pretlow said, "Governor Hochul continues to improve the infrastructure of crucial areas in our state to expand the quality of life for everyone. The residents of the 89th Assembly district utilize the Saw Mill River Parkway for various reasons. I am glad that their and all New Yorkers' safety has been enhanced through the completion of the two new bridges. The 89th A.D. appreciates the work done within our district, in Westchester, and the state, and we all look forward to more developments this year."

Assemblymember Amy Paulin said, "The completed replacement of the East Lincoln Avenue bridge over the Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River in the Village of Pelham and City of Mount Vernon is welcome news for the many residents who rely on it each week. As Westchester County has been repeatedly hit by devastating storms and flooding, it’s also key that the new bridge was built to a high standard of resiliency. I will continue to advocate for projects like this where we build stronger infrastructure that can withstand the effects of our changing environment.”

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, “Fixing our roads and bridges so they are both safe and climate resilient benefits commuters and businesses alike. Thanks to this action by Governor Hochul, Saw Mill River Parkway users will soon find that flooded roads and delayed commutes will be a far less frequent feature of their daily drives. Once again, partnerships among governments results in progress for our community.”

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual's driver license.