Section of I-86 Closed in New York State

A 3.5-mile stretch of westbound Interstate 86 in New York state could remain closed for most of the summer due to a slope failure, the New York State Department of Transportation said.

Truckers will face a 35-mile detour following the closure, via U.S. Route 219 and other secondary roads, which could add up to an hour of travel time, said Wayne Welker, a state DOT official.

The lanes are closed between exits 19, near Randolph, and 20, at Salamanca, N.Y., on the edge of Allegheny State Park south of Buffalo, Welker said.

The department said the closure is expected to remain in effect for about three months, though Welker said repair crews hope to have one lane open as soon as later this month.