Lane change

A problem that has been studied for years seems finally to be reaching resolution: how to control thousands of cars descending on the “funnel” leading to the toll booths at Exit 16, which is also the gateway to New York”™s busiest outdoor shopping mall, Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.

Will the state Department of Transportation”™s auspicious plans for Exit 16 on I-87 cure the traffic woes of Woodbury Common? The agency certainly hopes so, after holding several meetings with the village of Woodbury”™s citizen advisory committee over the past two years.

After a public hearing held in early 2009, a final draft of the environmental document and permit applications have been given to appropriate agencies for review and received necessary approvals. Now, the DOT awaits final approval from the Federal Highway Administration, which it anticipates receiving this month or in March.

A letter to the advisory committee from Sandra Jobson, the public involvement coordinator for the DOT, said the project will reconstruct the Thruway interchange where Route 17/future Interstate 84, Interstate 87 and state Route 32 converge. The DOT plans to deliver the project in two stages for an approximate cost of $62.5 million. Part of the reconstruction will include removing some of the lights that keep traffic on Route 32 backed up ”“ sometimes at a standstill ”“ particularly when Woodbury Common is holding a special sale or event. “The result is traffic is backed up horrendously,” said Woodbury police Chief Robert Kwiatkowski in an earlier interview.

Plans call for a road to be constructed allowing Woodbury Common shoppers to exit Route 32 from the right side of the road rather than waiting for a left-turn signal to give them access to the Thruway entrance. “The new design will help alleviate the congestion and keep traffic moving in an orderly manner. It will also be a great boost to our emergency services to have easier access in and out of the shopping center,” Kwiatkowski said.

Black Friday and major holiday shopping days are currently days to avoid the interchange at all costs. Residents hope the DOT”™s revamping the current network of roadways will bring relief for travelers just trying to cross the road.

Work is scheduled to begin in spring 2013 and be completed within a year. The DOT will hold another citizens advisory committee meeting within the next few months “to bring the community up to speed on the project”™s overall development,” according to Jobson.