Drivers on the Thruway in Chautauqua County lately know work is being done on the part of the road that runs through the Seneca Nation.

Turns out, that's only a temporary fix.

The Thruway Authority said before a full reconstruction project begins, they’ll take care of urgent repairs like filling potholes and repainting lines to enhance visibility.

The Thruway Authority wrote a letter to the Seneca Nation saying the concrete base of the road is crumbling and simply repaving would not be an effective step.

“A new and durable asphalt driving surface requires a sound concrete base, and its current condition as confirmed by our engineers’ assessment will simply not allow for that,” the letter says. “We have determined that completing the repairs of the concrete base along with full asphalt pavement replacement is not achievable in the timeframe remaining this fall. Therefore, the Thruway Authority will initiate a competitive bidding process to secure a contractor to perform the work in the spring.”

For the time being, crews will “continue to perform temporary partial-depth repairs” to the roadway to make it safer for winter driving.

Part of the overall project will include nearly five inches — in total about 60,000 tons of pavement — being dug up and removed.

As this is the first time the state has had the authority to inspect this roadway in more than seven years, the Thruway Authority has stated it would need to determine whether other repairs are necessary. 

In response, the Seneca Nation released a statement saying it is aware of the condition of the Thruway and "the extent, nature and timing of the necessary repairs. The approach outlined in Commissioner Driscoll's letter is included in the agreement we signed in September. The Nation will allow the Thruway Authority to proceed with the more extensive repairs, as agreed to, in order to ensure the safety of the traveling public."