Major Upgrade Completed On Interstate 86 In Tioga County

While it may have been a bit of an inconvenience for motorists who travel State Route 17/I-86 eastbound and westbound over the past couple of years between Vestal and Owego, the work was well worth it, as that portion of the highway transformation is now complete.

From State Route to Interstate

New York State Route 17, the Southern Tier Expressway, which runs from Mina in Western New York to the New Jersey border near Suffern, has been slowly transforming to interstate status as Interstate 86.

Today, December 8th, 2005, the completion of the $47 million project rehabilitation that rehabilitated a stretch of the interstate in the Town of Owego was announced by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul.

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This was a two-year project enhancing safety and mobility as the six-mile stretch was resurfaced, along with upgrading two bridges, improving resiliency following years of harsh weather impacts.

Smart infrastructure investments like the crucial highway reconstruction of the Southern Tier Expressway will help keep New Yorkers moving.  Interstate 86 is a critical highway bringing people to Lockheed Martin, Tioga Downs, and Binghamton University and countless other regional destinations, so it is crucial to rehabilitate this section so motorists can experience everything the Southern Tier has to offer. - New York State Governor Kathy Hochul

Governor Hochul noted that last year, a 32-mile section of the highway in Broome and Tioga Counties was designated part of Interstate 86, and this just-completed project brings that six-mile stretch up to current interstate standards.

Upcoming Interstate 86 Projects in Tioga County

According to Governor Hochul's office, in 2026, an adjacent section in Tioga County will also be rehabilitated, reconstructing 4.7 miles of Interstate 86 within the Town and Village of Owego. This will be a three-year project and will include work on Exits 64 and 65.

In addition, another project scheduled to begin in 2027, which is now in design, will be to resurface a six-mile section of Interstate 86 between Exits 61 and 62 in the Town of Nichols, Tioga County.

For more information, visit Governor Hochul's website.