The Government of New York is planning to reopen the new Route 150 bridge, which is currently being built over the Wynantskill Creek in the US town of North Greenbush, Rensselaer County, in September. 

The new bridge is included in a $16.4m multi-bridge contract, which is part of the $542m Empire Bridge programme, which primarily focuses on the rebuilding critical infrastructure across New York state. 

The Empire Bridge programme focuses on replacing ageing and vulnerable structures across the state and is administered by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYDoT).

New York Governor Andrew Mark Cuomo said: "We are making unprecedented infrastructure investments in every corner of the state, strengthening and rebuilding bridges and highways to ensure they can meet the demands of current and future generations of New Yorkers.

"This new bridge will help make this key part of the capital region’s transportation network more reliable and viable for years to come."

"This new bridge will help make this key part of the capital region’s transportation network more reliable and viable for years to come."

Since 1 June, the transport authorities closed the Route 150 Bridge, near the Route 66 intersection, for motor vehicles and installed a temporary pedestrian bridge prior to the full bridge closure. 

The new bridge is being constructed in accordance with governor Cuomo’s Drivers First Initiative, which focuses on the convenience of motorists and keeping disruptions to minimum levels for drivers at highway and bridge projects across the state. 

New York State Department of Transportation commissioner Matthew Driscoll said: "Governor Cuomo understands that reliable transportation infrastructure is the key to a growing economy.

“Hardening New York’s bridges, like Route 150 over the Wynantskill Creek, will make them more resilient for local and regional travellers in the face of increasingly challenging weather events."

Other works completed as part of this project include replacements of the two bridges on the Route 9 over the North Branch of the Moordenerkill in the town of Schodack, Rensselaer County, and a bridge on the Route 43 over the Black River in the town of Stephentown, in Rensselaer County. Works have also been completed for Route 145 bridge over Fox Creek in the Town of Rensselaerville, Albany County.