NY highway work comes to a halt for Memorial Day

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that temporary lane closures for road and bridge construction projects on New York State highways will be suspended from 6 a.m. on Friday, May 24 to 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28 to accommodate increased travel throughout Memorial Day weekend. The suspension of construction supports Governor Cuomo's Drivers First initiative, which prioritizes the convenience of motorists to minimize traffic congestion and travel delays due to road and bridge work. Drivers should keep in mind that in some cases, road work may continue behind permanent concrete barriers or for emergency repairs. The Governor is also urging motorists to abide by New York's Move Over Law and to utilize the 64 text stops located statewide as needed for texting, making phone calls, and other non-driving tasks.  

"Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year and we want to do all we can to help New Yorkers get to their holiday destinations safely and with minimum delays," Governor Cuomo said. "I urge everyone on the roads this weekend to drive safely, to remember to move over for roadside emergency and maintenance vehicles and to utilize text stops to avoid distracted driving."  

New York's Move Over Law requires motorists to drive with care, slow down and safely move over when approaching law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks and construction or maintenance vehicles that are stopped along roads across the state. The law was enacted in 2010 to protect first responders and expanded in 2011 to include tow operators and those working along the roadway. It has since been expanded to include a wider range of emergency and hazard vehicles.