Calling it the “most significant fire damage that we can remember in Thruway history, the state Thruway Authority says it will spend $1 million to rebuild a salt shed in the Town of Mamaroneck that a worker is accused of burning down.
According to a story in LoHud, the facility is the only one that supplies road salt to Thruway crews responsible for the New England Thruway.
The facility was destroyed by the Aug. 18 fire, acting chief engineer Cathy Sheridan said at the authority’s board meeting Monday in Albany.
The Thruway lost $400,000 in equipment and 650 tons of salt, worth about $46,000, Sheridan said. About 2,000 tons of salt was salvaged, more than originally anticipated following the late afternoon fire.
State police charged Richard Cass, a 54-year-old Thruway electrician, with fourth-degree arson.
The salt shed is critical to Thruway operations in the winter because it supplies the New England Thruway, or Interstate 95.
