Pembroke, Clarence service areas on Thruway will close later this month for upgrades

Posted 8 July 2021 at 9:03 am

27 Thruway Service areas to be modernized in $450 million project

Press Release, NYS Thruway Authority

The New York State Thruway Authority announced construction will begin this month on a $450 million project to redevelop the 27 service areas located on the New York State Thruway.

The service areas were originally built in the 1950s, with the last significant redevelopment taking place in the 1990s. On July 29, ten service areas will close for work to begin on the first phase of the project. Fuel services will remain available at all locations during construction.

The following service areas will close on July 29 for redevelopment:

Ardsley (I-87 northbound, mile marker 6)
Plattekill (I-87 northbound, mile marker 65)
New Baltimore (I-87 northbound and southbound, mile marker 127)
Indian Castle (I-90 eastbound, mile marker 210)
Iroquois (I-90 westbound, mile marker 210)
Chittenango (I-90 westbound, mile marker 266)
Junius Ponds (I-90 westbound, mile marker 324)
Clifton Springs (I-90 eastbound, mile marker 337)
Clarence (I-90 westbound, mile marker 412)
Pembroke (I-90 eastbound, mile marker 397)

Following a competitive bidding process, Empire State Thruway Partners was awarded the contract and will rebuild 23 of the 27 service area restaurant buildings and provide significant renovations and upgrades to the remaining four. The contract with Empire State Thruway Partners includes a 33-year term, with two phases of construction. The project is funded through a public-private partnership, and no toll dollars or state tax dollars are being used.

“This expansive project will modernize the buildings and amenities, provide diverse and healthy food options with new restaurants and Taste NY products, and enhance the amenities for the commercial trucking industry,” said Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll. “This is an exciting era for the Thruway Authority and we can’t wait for our customers to experience these new modern facilities.”

Most buildings at the new service areas will be configured to provide entrances from both the parking lot and fuel station facilities. New amenities and services at select service areas will also include:

Exterior seating with access to Taste NY farm markets, picnic areas, play areas, and pet walking areas with comfort stations
EV charging stations to further Governor Cuomo’s goals of reducing emissions and expanding electric vehicle infrastructure across the state
Commercial driver services including increased truck parking, showers, laundry facilities and fitness centers

The Thruway Authority announced the new food concepts which will be available to customers as part of the redevelopment project. Customers will have diverse food options at all 27 service areas, offering a range of healthy products and meals from nationally recognized restaurants.

The expanded food concepts include: Shake Shack, Panera, Popeyes, Burger King, Panda Express, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Taste NY and Applegreen Convenience Store.

Specific locations for the food concepts will be announced at a later date.

In 2022, work will continue on six additional service areas. Phase two includes 11 service areas with renovations expected to begin in 2023. To ensure continuity of services to Thruway customers during construction, no two consecutive service areas in the same direction of travel will be closed for renovations at the same time.

Construction is expected to begin in 2022 at the following service areas:

Sloatsburg (I-87 northbound, mile marker 33)
Ulster (I-87 southbound, mile marker 96)
Pattersonville (I-90 westbound, mile marker 168)
Oneida (I-90 eastbound, mile marker 244)
Seneca (I-90 westbound, mile marker 350)
Scottsville (I-90 eastbound, mile marker 366)