Yisroel R.

Drivers traveling through Nanuet continue to face delays and disruptions along Route 304 as the long-running bridge replacement project over Interstate 287 stretches on, drawing growing frustration from motorists and local residents.

The New York State Department of Transportation now says work on the southbound side of the bridge, along with the Palisades Interstate Parkway Exit 9W ramp, is expected to be completed this fall. Once that portion is finished, crews are expected to shift their focus to the northbound side of Route 304.

Assemblyman Patrick Carroll said he continues to hear complaints from residents frustrated by how long the project has taken and the impact it has had on everyday travel. Carroll said drivers want more transparency and faster progress from the DOT, noting that the work has made even routine trips along Route 304 more difficult.

The Palisades Interstate Parkway exit ramp was forced to close again earlier this year after crews discovered that the bridge required more repair work than originally anticipated. State Senator Bill Weber said that unexpected work appears to have contributed to the delays, adding that he remains in contact with the DOT as the project moves forward.

“Unfortunately, this 304 bridge project is taking much too long to finish, but there is an end in sight. We will keep monitoring it,” Weber said.

The DOT said any additional ramp closures will be evaluated as construction progresses and that it is working with contractors to complete the project as quickly and smoothly as possible. For drivers who rely on Route 304, however, the project remains an ongoing headache.

Congressman Mike Lawler also called on the state to bring the same urgency to the Route 304 project that it showed in completing the Route 59 bridge over South Pascack Road in Spring Valley. Lawler noted that the Route 59 bridge reopened weeks ahead of schedule after months of major traffic disruptions, saying the long-running Route 304 work and continued Route 9W ramp closure should now be completed with the same sense of urgency.