Drivers relieved as Thruway reopens
With all the road closures due to Irene, some vacationers using Wednesday as a travel day before the holiday weekend were worried about potential delays. But seeing the Thruway open up again makes drivers across the Northeast happy. Our Megan Eaton has more.
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PATTERSONVILLE, N.Y. -- After three days of detours and backroads...
"Having to go into little towns and around and trying to find my way around, and my poor GPS is suffering a little bit," said Claire Berube of Canada.
...a re-opened Thruway is just what drivers were hoping to see.
"Instead of being 12 hours, it's going to be eight," said Berube.
When Irene threatened to push Schoharie Creek water levels into a devastating state, the Thruway Authority shut down the main road throughout Central New York, leaving drivers to take the roads less traveled.
"I tried to take an alternate route, and that was flooded out as well," said Scott Niblock of Connecticut.
"Alternate routes were kinda hard to get to. Some roads were closed. We had to turn around and come back," said Buffalo native David Milks.
For many drivers on the Thruway, it's not just about the convenience of having the roadway open, it's also about knowing when you can make a pit stop.
Milks said, "Our vehicle takes diesel, and we actually had to drive farther than we needed to get diesel fuel."
"I've just been in the car for three hours, and I really need to stretch out. If we didn't have that straight route, I would have been really annoyed," said Jabari Johnson.
The Thruway straight shoot toward their final destination makes it easier on drivers, whether they're heading for vacation, like Johnson's family.
"My parents and I are really happy because we don't have to be in the car longer than 12 hours, which is how long it is," he said.
Or home to Buffalo after helping out Hudson Valley flood victims.
"We're just glad that everything is back to normal," said Milks.
For a look at travel conditions, visit the YNN Traffic section.
Traffic maps and closure information is also available at 511ny.org. Just click on the Traffic Conditions button then check the "Incidents/Closures" box in the legend of the map.