Cashless tolling to begin on Grand Island Crossings in New York

TINNews |

High-speed open road, cashless tolling is set to begin at the Grand Island toll barriers in New York, US, next year.

The transition is expected to minimise traffic congestion and air pollution while improving the safety of the motorists.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo urged motorists to sign up for an E-ZPass and save on tolls across the state, including the 570-mile New York State Thruway.

"By transitioning to cashless tolling, one of these most travelled roads in Western New York will become safer and less congested to help meet the needs of 21st century motorists."

Grand Island Bridges links Grand Island on the Niagara Thruway (I-190) between Niagara Falls and the Town of Tonawanda.

Construction at the Grand Island cashless tolling is set to begin in October and slated for completion by next March.

Upon completion, the project is expected to save nearly 200min of motorist’s time a year.

When open road, cashless tolling begins, the authorities will remove toll barriers at the North and South Grand Island Bridges, as well as replace them with gantries that have sensors and cameras suspended over the highway.

The sensor technology reads E-ZPass tags and takes licence plate images, eliminating the need for stopping and paying the toll fee.

Cuomo said: "By transitioning to cashless tolling, one of these most travelled roads in Western New York will become safer and less congested to help meet the needs of 21st century motorists, while providing commuters easy access to the new welcome centre for generations to come."

In another development, Cuomo announced the opening of a new Route 150 bridge over the Wynantskill Creek in Wynantskill, a hamlet in North Greenbush, Rensselaer County.

The bridge replacement is part of a $16.4m contract and the $542m Empire Bridge programme that focuses on making New York State bridges resilient, as well as strengthens them against future storms and natural disasters.