GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. — The New York State Thruway Authority is reassuring visitors to its relatively new Grand Island Welcome Center that the building is safe after a portion of the interior ceiling fell to the floor earlier this week.
A man from Plattsburgh contacted The Buffalo News to report that while stopping in for a cup of coffee on Monday, a 3' x 21 ' ceiling panel crashed to the ground landing just two feet away from him.
The man was not injured.
According to Thruway Authority Spokesperson Jennifer Givner, the panels, located near a restroom, were reinstalled and reinforced with additional fasteners, and all other panels were inspected to ensure their safety.
The $25 million Western New York Welcome Center opened in August of 2018. It has attracted critics due to the amount of money spent to build it.