I-87 Call Box System being dismantled

PLATTSBURGH | The New York State Police have announced that it has begun the decommissioning and removal process of the I-87 Northway Call Box System (NCBS). In 1986, The State Police completed installation of the NCBS, which located an emergency call box every two miles along the highway northbound and southbound from northern Warren County to Clinton County. The purpose of the NCBS was to allow motorists to contact State Police if their vehicle became disabled or to report an emergency. Over the course of the last few years, despite regular maintenance, repair issues have developed with the system due to the age of the equipment. New parts are no longer available, and in some instances, parts have been cannibalized from some boxes to keep others functioning. Currently, only 47 call boxes are in service. The State Police conducted an analysis and determined that the number of emergency calls being made from the system has steadily declined, averaging less than 30 calls per year. Based on the declining use of the system and the improvements in cell phone service along the highway, the State Police have determined that the cost of an entirely new system is not justified. The State Police is starting a project to remove the call boxes, which is forecast to be completed by the fall of 2023. The call box system installed by the State Police replaced the original wired emergency phone system that was installed during construction of the Northway in the 1960s.

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I-87 Call Box System being dismantled

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