New York State Thruway Authority v. Dufel

OPINION OF THE COURT

Mahoney, P. J.

On April 5, 1987, the New York State Thruway bridge spanning the Schoharie Creek in Montgomery County collapsed. On April 7, Governor Mario Cuomo declared a disaster emergency within areas of Schoharie, Montgomery and Ulster Counties affected by the extreme flood conditions which apparently contributed to the bridge collapse. Because of the bridge collapse, Thruway traffic had to be rerouted onto local highways. The eastbound detour is about six miles long and the westbound detour is about 35 miles long. The detours consist largely of two-lane rural undivided…