Food options to expand
Service areas along highway will get major overhaul starting soon
Shake Shack and Chick-fil-a are among the new restaurants that will be included in the renovations of New York State Thruway service areas.
Additional expanded food options include Panera, Popeyes, Burger King, Panda Express, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Applegreen Convenience Store and Taste NY farm markets, the state initiative highlighting locally grown products. Specific locations for the food sites have yet to be announced.
The Thruway Authority on Wednesday announced the $450 million project to remodel the service areas will begin this month. Ten service areas will close July 29 for the first phase of work, the first significant development taking place at the stations since the 1990s, the authority said.
Among the first will be the New Baltimore areas, south and northbound. In 2022, Pattersonville, between the Scotia and Amsterdam exits, will see construction.
Of the 27 service area restaurant buildings, 23 will be rebuilt, with significant upgrades and renovations coming to the other four. Thruway officials dubbed the renovations as a “new travel experience.” The new amenities will in
clude picnic and play areas, pet walking areas and electric vehicle charging stations designed to further the state’s goal of expanding the infrastructure across New York.
Funds come from a public-private partnership with Empire State Thruway Partners, according to the Thruway Authority. No toll dollars or state tax dollars are being used. The service areas were originally built in the 1950s.
Fuel services will remain available at all locations during construction. Service areas closing on July 29 include: Ardsley (I-87 northbound), Plattekill (I-87 northbound), New Baltimore (I-87 northbound and southbound), Indian Castle (I-90 eastbound), Iroquois (I-90 westbound), Chittenango (I-90 westbound), Junius Ponds (I-90 westbound), Clifton Springs (I-90 eastbound), Clarence (I-90 westbound), Pembroke (I-90 eastbound).
Construction is expected to begin in 2022 at the following locations:
Sloatsburg (I-87 northbound), Ulster (I-87 southbound), Pattersonville (I-90 westbound), Oneida (I-90 eastbound), Seneca (I-90 westbound), Scottsville (I-90 eastbound).
“This expansive project will modernize the buildings and amenities, provide diverse and healthy food options with new restaurants and Taste NY products, and enhance the amenities for the commercial trucking industry,” Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll said.