Rerouting of Parkway traffic extends through winter

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, December 17, 2005

A traffic detour merging four lanes into two on a section of the Robert Moses Parkway that passes over the New York Power Authority’s Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant will remain in effect this winter.

The rerouting of vehicles has been necessary for the refurbishing of the concrete exterior of the Moses Power Plant by the NYPA. Since April 2004, the parkway has been used as a staging area for the multimillion rehabilitation project.

Although the work will be suspended through March, the continued diverting of traffic will facilitate the NYPA’s quick resumption of the repairs once the construction season resumes. Southbound traffic for the affected area is being diverted to the westernmost lane of the northbound parkway, occurring near the Center Street entrance/exit ramps.

The NYPA consulted with the state Office parks and transportation departments on the detour, which includes traffic barriers, a flashing arrow board and message signs.

Minor modifications of the detour were made based on recommendations of the two agencies.

The concrete exterior work for the Moses Plant is scheduled to be completed by late 2007. The plant is the main generating facility of the Niagara Power Project, which produced its first power in 1961.