BIG DETOUR IN ALBANY, NY NEAR EMPIRE PLAZA BEGINNING 01 APR 2000 -04 JUL 2000 If you think the problem of driving in Albany near the Empire Plaza couldn't get worse, IT WILL effective 01 Apr 2000. Please post to genealogy lists to help people avoid the problems in trying to get to the NYS Library, Archives, Museum, Albany Co. Hall of Records and any other place in downtown Albany. This involves the EXIT RAMP COMING OUT OF THE UNDERGROUND PARKING AREA of EMPIRE PLAZA to RT I-787 NORTH AND SOUTH. To accommodate the additional traffic anticipated (from soon-to-open new parking ramps) to access I-787, certain portions of the current ramps must be widened. The DOT is constructing a project that is running concurrently with the Offices of General Services' garage construction so that work on the ramp widening project will conclude on or about 01 AUG 2000. It will be necessary to CLOSE the ramp from the garage exit that leads to I-787 NORTH and SOUTHBOUND. The ramp will be closed for a maximum of 90 days. During this time, all the remaining work that affects traffic will be completed. It is expected that work will begin on 01 Apr 2000 and will be completed prior to 04 Jul weekend. To ensure safe lane changes to and from the underground garages, new overhead signs will be placed. Motorist traveling through the Mall or exiting the Empire State Plaza north and south (underground) parking facilities will encounter a divided roadway after leaving the Plaza tunnels. As you exit, YOU WILL NOT be able to take the usual ramp which takes you directly to I-787 north and south. Signs will take you on a 2 (two) mile route which will take you out over I-787 (below you) and ACROSS THE HUDSON RIVER. On the other side of the river, you will do a right loop, turn right, go a short distance straight ahead, take a right and COME BACK ACROSS THE HUDSON RIVER. As you return to the Albany side of the Hudson River, THEN you may TAKE RT I-787 North or South. This is an expected 4 (four) minute additional time DURING NON-PEAK HOURS. TO AVOID THIS DETOUR. It is suggested if leaving the NYS Library, Archives, Museum, Albany Co. Hall of Records - Take Madison Ave (the street that runs in front of the Museum) downhill and when you are at the bottom, take the road to the right that directs you to I-787. (You will be driving under the raised roads of I-787). To go NORTH on I-787 - From the bottom of Madison Ave, it curves to the right and then to the left (stay in the left lane). At the light *, you will turn left and stay to the left going up the ramp to join the Northbound I-787 traffic. * At this light, you will be looking at the Hudson River (USS SLater and Dutch Apple Boat are right there). If you are familiar with downtown Albany, you may enter I-787 from the ramp entrance near Fleet Bank. This ramp will be open as usual. A great idea to avoid the traffic and parking problems at any time (year round) near the Museum and Capital area is to check out the locations, especially from Malls, that you could take a CDTA bus in to Madison Ave. There are commuter bus services from all surrounding counties also. These opportunities should be considered in booking motel accommodations in the areas outside of downtown Albany which are often considerably lower in price. For further information call: Wendy Gibson - Information officer of the Office of General Services 518-474-5987 or Tim Conway, Department of Transportation at 518-474-6285. Tune into AM 830 on our radio for project information.