Construction is underway on a $4 million renovation of the westbound Route 17 rest area in East Branch, with the state planning to keep the parking area available throughout the project.
The New York State Department of Transportation and Office of General Services announced the work Friday. The rest area is in the Town of Hancock along the East Branch of the Delaware River and has served Southern Tier travelers since the 1960s.
The renovation will replace the roof, siding, doors and windows and update the restrooms with new sinks, toilets and other fixtures. Plans also call for new epoxy flooring and landscaping.
Major utility work includes a new water-treatment and sewer system and an above-ground structure for the facility’s water tanks. State officials say moving the tanks above ground will make testing and maintenance easier and safer for workers by eliminating the need to enter an underground confined space.
The parking lot will remain open during construction, and portable toilets will be available. The state expects the project to be completed in summer 2027 and is asking motorists to use caution when entering and leaving the site.
The East Branch work is part of a broader effort to improve Southern Tier rest areas. Construction is also underway at the Nichols rest area in Tioga County, while recent rehabilitation projects were completed at Roscoe, Unadilla and East Worcester.
