Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced an $11 million project to replace the Route 31 or Lyell Avenue Bridge over Route 390 in Gates.
The project is the first phase of a larger initiative to improve traffic flow at the convergence of interstates 390 and 490 and routes 390 and 31.
State Department of Transportation spokeswoman Lori Maher says this week they will be working on shifting traffic and reducing the number of lanes in the area.
"You’ll still be able to get on and off the exit there and get to the expressway. So you don’t need to avoid it, but allow some extra time until things settle down and people figure out where they need to be."
Maher says there are a number of reasons the bridge needs some work.
"It’s really been showing a lot of signs of age and is ready to be fully replaced. And secondly, replacing that is really going to open the door to realign that whole interchange which will come later."
Transportation plays a major role in economic development, Maher said. Nearly 200,000 motorists use this corridor daily to get to the Greater Rochester International Airport, Rochester Technology Park and the Eastman Business Park.
Work on the bridge is set to begin in a couple of weeks and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.