One Vestal Route 17 On-Ramp to Reopen to Ease Traffic Congestion

Drivers on the Vestal Parkway and East Main Street in Endicott and Endwell have been coping with significant traffic backups because of a summer bridge repair project. The state Department of Transportation has announced one on-ramp to Route 17 east boundwill be reopened to help deal with increased traffic volume expected with the reopening of schools. In recent weeks, the entrances to the highway for the highway from Route 26 in Vestal have been closed to address safety concerns related to the $4.5 million construction project. The DOT now plans to open the Route 26 southbound on-ramp to Route 17 eastbound around 9 a.m. Wednesday. A news release from the agency indicates the ramp is expected to be kept open through the end of the current construction season. The Route 26 northbound on-ramp is not scheduled to reopen until later this year. Old approach slabs to Route 17 bridges over the Susquehanna River and Vestal Road are being replaced. The bridges were built in 1969. According to the DOT, an average of 42,000 vehicles travel across the bridges every day. Several vehicles have sustained tire and other damage in recent years because of potholes and other pavement issues on Route 17. The bridge repair project now underway is scheduled to be completed this construction season.