Grand Island, NY - A big construction project began Sunday night on one of the south Grand Island Bridges. This time it is a deck repair project on the southbound bridge which carries traffic off the island towards Buffalo.

The New York Thruway Authority says the work will begin at 8 PM and continue until 6 AM from Sunday through Thursday until the expected completion in October. In case of inclement weather, the work may be postponed.

The Authority says all southbound traffic will be forced to a cross over into a single lane for a two way traffic flow on the northbound south Grand Island Bridge. There will be lane designation signals to help guide drivers.

Authority District Director Thomas Pericak says this project is different from the work in 2010 which caused major traffic delays. The work this time will involve the repair of deck joints for the bridge and paving. It will be less intensive than the 2010 project in which actual parts of the deck bridge were replaced. Issues with equipment and the proper curing of concrete caused the contractor back then to keep the bridge closed beyond the expected finishing deadline. As such Pericak says the risk of delays is much less.    

But Pericak and Grand Island Supervisor Mary Cooke still suggest that drivers check with http://NITTEC.org or for TRANSalert e-mails with the Thruway authority at http://www.thruway.ny.gov.tas/index.shtml.

Of course you will also find traffic cameras in our Traffic section at wgrz.com and there will be traffic updates during Channel 2 News Daybreak.

WGRZ