Lately, New York State thruway reconstructions have been seeing extreme delays and are costing local taxpayers an arm and a leg. Sadly, this trend might be continuing...

A private company known as Applegreen Limited signed a deal with the state to reconstruct thruway rest stops, supposedly not at the expense of taxpayers nor the Thruway Authority, in exchange for a portion of the retailer's proceeds. However, it is possible that this will be changing soon due to cost overruns (Greg Floyd, CBS 6 Albany).

Greg Floyd, CBS 6 Albany
Greg Floyd, CBS 6 Albany
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According to Greg Floyd from CBS 6 Albany, the rest area in question runs through Rochester, NY, and the construction company doing the work for Applegreen (LeChase Construction) told state officials they would need a bailout for as much as $260 million, of which could potentially come out of our pockets... Sheesh!

Greg Floyd, CBS 6 Albany
Greg Floyd, CBS 6 Albany
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What Do State Officials Say?

"It would be a very 'slippery slope' if the state were to begin bailing out private construction companies when there are cost overruns, whether because of miscalculations or projected project cost or due to intervening events that result in higher costs than anticipated." - Rochester Assemblyman Harry Bronson (Greg Floyd, CBS 6 Albany)

Bronson also commented saying that the work being done at these rest stops is important, but not enough to cost taxpayers their hard-earned money. Fortunately, state officials are doing all they can to ensure it won't come to that, but anything's possible. Interim Executive Director of the Thruway Authority, Frank Hoare, also commented saying he doesn't see the "current deal for rest area renovation changing" (Greg Floyd, CBS 6 Albany).

Greg Floyd, CBS 6 Albany
Greg Floyd, CBS 6 Albany
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We have stopped at one of the new rest areas and they are horrible. Contractor should be paying the Thruway Authority (taxpayers) not the other way around. -Jean Marie Cole via Facebook

Take a Look at the First NY Thruway Rest Area Completed

There has been a lot of construction being done on the New York State Thruway Rest Areas and finally, we are starting to see some of the rest stops being completed. Although the first rest area is open, this is one of the smaller versions of what the other ones will look like. The Indian Castle rest area just 90 minutes west of Albany is beautiful with a Popeye's and Starbucks inside. It boasts a Starbucks drive-thru and a convenience store featuring a variety of New York state products.

Another New York Thruway Rest Area is Complete w/ Shake Shack! Take a Look!

There has been a lot of construction being done on the New York State Thruway Rest Areas and finally, we are starting to see some of the rest stops being completed. Although another rest area is open, this is one of the smaller versions of what the other ones will look like. Junius Ponds rest area about 2 hours from Albany heading west joins the Indian Castle rest area just 90 minutes west of Albany. Junius Ponds features a Starbucks and a Shake Shack. Both boast a Starbucks drive-thru and a convenience store featuring a variety of New York state products.

Vintage 1951 Video Shows NY Thruway Being Built In Albany

It was a pretty big deal when the Thruway was being built in the 1950's and this vintage video not only shows the highway being built in the Albany area, but also some vinatge shots of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy.

35 Years Ago Tragedy on the New York State Thruway

April 5, 1987 the bridge carrying the Thruway over the Schoharie Creek collapsed in Montgomery County. Ten people were killed after immense rain caused the foundation of the bridge to buckle.

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