One of the Greater Rochester area's most-traveled commuter corridors is now an active construction zone. On March 20, 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that major construction has begun on a $51.5 million project to repair and replace a series of bridges along Interstate 590 in the Town of Brighton, Monroe County. The work targets four-span bridges built in the mid-1960s that have reached the end of their structural service lives — and addresses a critical gap in a highway that connects the City of Rochester with suburban communities, Rochester International Airport, and the New York State Thruway.

What Is Being Built

The project has two primary scopes. First, the two bridges carrying I-590 over State Route 31 (Monroe Avenue) will be fully replaced with modern continuous-span structures. The existing four-span configuration will give way to a geometry designed to reduce long-term maintenance costs, improve ride quality, and achieve a projected service life of 75 years. Second, the spans carrying I-590 over Allens Creek Road will be rehabilitated — deck replacements and an additional girder will be installed on the median side to improve structural stability and extend their service lives by approximately 50 additional years.

Supporting work includes new drainage systems, increased shoulder widths, replacement of overhead sign structures, a new concrete median barrier, new lighting, and full repaving of the roadway between bridges and on multiple entrance and exit ramps.

Schedule and Traffic Impacts

Preliminary work was completed in 2025. As of the March 20 announcement, major construction has begun on the northbound lanes. Work on the southbound lanes is planned for the 2027 construction season, with all work expected to be complete by fall 2028. During active construction, I-590 will be reduced from three lanes to two lanes in each direction. The Monroe Avenue entrance ramp to I-590 South and the I-590 South exit ramp to Monroe Avenue (Exit 2B) will be closed. Temporary closures will also affect Monroe Avenue, Allens Creek Road, and associated ramps — though both roads will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists throughout the project.

NYSDOT has committed to keeping the public updated through travel advisories and on-site variable message signs. Motorists are advised to plan alternate routes.

Project Context and Funding

I-590 is a critical commuter arterial linking downtown Rochester to the Town of Brighton and the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. The existing structures date to the mid-1960s and are part of a generation of New York State highway infrastructure now reaching simultaneous end-of-life — a pattern driving NYSDOT's record $1.2 billion paving and bridge investment agenda for 2026, as outlined by Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez in February 2026 budget testimony. Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (IIJA) funding is contributing to bridge replacement projects across New York State as part of that record investment cycle.

Senator Chuck Schumer, referencing his role in securing the IIJA, called the project "long-overdue improvements essential to public safety and economic growth." Monroe County Executive Adam Bello noted the project "protects public safety and preserves the quality of life our residents deserve."

Project Data at a Glance

• Total project cost: $51.5 million
• Location: I-590, Town of Brighton, Monroe County, New York
• Primary scope: Full replacement of two bridges over Monroe Avenue (SR 31); rehabilitation of two bridges over Allens Creek Road
• New service life: 75 years (Monroe Ave. bridges); +50 years (Allens Creek spans)
• Construction start: Northbound lanes, 2026 season (preliminary work completed 2025)
• Southbound lanes: 2027 construction season
• Completion target: Fall 2028
• Project authority: New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)

Why This Matters to Construction Professionals

Bridge replacement at the scale of I-590 is a multiyear, multi-phase operation with significant work in each season. The phased northbound/southbound sequencing is a traffic management strategy that adds complexity for the contractor — formwork, falsework, and superstructure erection must all be staged to avoid interference with live traffic on adjacent lanes. Continuous-span superstructure replacement on an elevated interstate involves specialized bridge crews, heavy rigging, and girder delivery logistics that require coordination with NYSDOT Region 4 and the Monroe County DOT traffic engineering team.

For subcontractors, the scope includes significant electrical (new lighting, overhead sign structures), drainage, concrete barrier, and paving work. The scale — $51.5 million over two construction seasons — means a sustained pipeline of subcontract work for the prime contractor's team. Bridge work of this type in New York requires Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals and is subject to prevailing wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act for the federal funding component.

Implications for Owners and Developers

Brighton Supervisor Bill Mohele directly linked the bridge work to economic development: "Along with the State's plan to reconstruct Monroe Avenue starting in 2027, these projects will not only make Monroe Avenue and I-590 safer but will also be catalysts for economic development in Brighton." For commercial and industrial property owners along the Monroe Avenue corridor, the combination of bridge replacement and a forthcoming Monroe Avenue reconstruction represents a multi-year construction environment — both a temporary disruption and, ultimately, a long-term infrastructure upgrade that supports property values and development capacity.

What to Watch Next

The prime contractor for the project is already mobilized on the northbound lanes. Watch for formal lane closure notifications from NYSDOT Region 4 as each phase advances. The 2027 southbound lane work will be the more significant construction phase — it will require a new traffic management plan and may require coordination with the planned Monroe Avenue reconstruction referenced by Brighton's supervisor. Monroe County DOT's project updates page will carry current information on lane closures and detour routes throughout the project.

Bottom Line

The I-590 Brighton bridge replacement is one of the most significant active infrastructure investments in Monroe County in 2026 — a $51.5 million, multi-year commitment to reconstructing 60-year-old spans on a highway that 155,000 daily vehicle trips depend on. For contractors with bridge construction capacity, it is the kind of project that sustains a crew for two seasons. For the region, it is the latest evidence that the end-of-life infrastructure bulge built in the 1960s is driving a sustained, well-funded construction cycle across Western New York.

Sources:
Governor Hochul Announces $51.5 Million Project to Upgrade Bridges Along Interstate 590 (March 20, 2026)
NYSDOT Commissioner Dominguez Budget Hearing Testimony, February 3, 2026
Monroe County DOT Construction Project Updates