ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) and Office of General Services (OGS) broke ground on a new DOT materials testing facility. The $150.5 million project will be located on the Harriman State Office Building campus in Albany.
The current Central Testing Laboratory is over 60 years old. Officials said it is outdated and too small. The new location will increase the DOT’s ability to test and certify that the products and materials used on state roads and bridges are safe and reliable.
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“Investing in infrastructure means investing not only in our roads and bridges, but also in the people and facilities that ensure that infrastructure is safe,” Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said. “This new Central Testing Laboratory will give NYSDOT employees a facility to conduct the critical testing that helps ensure the materials used on our roads and bridges are safe, durable and reliable. I’m proud to see this significant investment taking place right here in the Capital Region. This is an investment in both our workforce and the future of our transportation network.”
DOT’s central testing lab performs around 100,000 tests a year, evaluating the chemical, physical and performance properties of the thousands of materials used on state transportation projects. The laboratory tests ensure that all materials used meet state and federal quality and performance standards.
The current facilities are spread across two buildings: the traffic signal laboratory and the drillers’ operation center. The new lab will consolidate all facilities into one location, accommodate new testing equipment, and evaluate materials used on roads and bridges across the state…