I-87 Lane Closures Disrupt Albany Drivers

New York State transportation officials said this week that a new round of pavement renewal work on Interstate 87 is set to bring lane closures and traffic disruptions to drivers in the Albany area. The work is part of more than $40 million in Northway resurfacing projects announced by the state on May 19. The New York State Department of Transportation said the broader initiative will renew 113 lane miles of I-87 and affect one of the busiest commuter corridors in upstate New York. State officials said the corridor carries more than 100,000 vehicles a day. ### Which stretch of I-87 near Albany is included? A second resurfacing project valued at $22 million is scheduled to begin later this spring on the Northway from U.S. Route 20, or Western Avenue, in the town of Guilderland through Albany to the Mohawk River in the town of Colonie, the Department of Transportation said. That places the Albany-area work along one of the most heavily traveled sections of I-87 in the Capital Region. The May 19 state announcement said the Albany-to-Colonie work is part of a larger two-project package on the Adirondack Northway. The first phase, already getting underway, covers Saratoga County from the Mohawk River to Exit 11 through Halfmoon, Clifton Park and Malta. ### Why are drivers being warned now? The Department of Transportation said construction is beginning on the Northway renewal effort, and local reporting said drivers should expect overnight lane closures and some ramp detours as work advances. (dot.ny.gov) WNYT, citing transportation officials, reported on May 21 that motorists are likely to encounter those overnight restrictions as the paving program starts. Patch’s Albany listings also flagged the upcoming I-87 lane closures for local drivers, reflecting commuter concern before the Albany-area phase begins. Patch’s item pointed readers to where and when closures would affect travel, though the state’s May 19 release did not list a detailed closure schedule in the text available online. ### What work is the state planning to do on the highway? The Department of Transportation said crews will remove the aged top layer of pavement and replace it with new asphalt designed to improve traction and drainage. (dot.ny.gov) The agency said the projects also include highly reflective pavement markings, modernized traffic sensors for real-time traffic management and new guiderails where needed. Sidewalk approaches to highway ramps will also be updated to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the state said. (patch.com) Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said in the announcement that the projects are intended to improve travel conditions along a corridor used by more than 100,000 daily travelers. ### How big is the broader Northway project? The state said the two Northway resurfacing efforts together exceed $40 million. (dot.ny.gov) Of that total, $18.7 million is tied to the Saratoga County phase and $22 million to the Albany-through-Colonie phase scheduled for later this spring. Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration said the Northway work is part of a statewide paving push backed by an additional $600 million this year. (dot.ny.gov) The Department of Transportation said New York now plans to renew more than 4,000 lane miles of pavement in 2026. ### Where can commuters check before they get on the road? 511NY said its Capital Region Albany-Saratoga platform carries live traffic conditions, construction notices, closures, cameras and route-planning tools for drivers in the area. (dot.ny.gov) The statewide traffic service describes itself as New York’s official source for current road and commuter information. The Department of Transportation also maintains Region 1 traveler advisories for the Capital Region, though the Albany-area I-87 closure details were not visible in the advisory index returned in current search results. (dot.ny.gov) For now, the clearest state guidance is that the Albany-to-Colonie resurfacing phase is scheduled for later this spring, with live closure information expected to appear through official traffic channels as work begins. (dot.ny.gov) (511ny.org)