TOWN OF TONAWANDA — Orange traffic cones — a sure sign of spring in Western New York — will be making their appearance next week along lanes of the I-190 and I-290 as state workers begin replacing one of Western New York’s worst interchanges.

While both points where the highways cross are troublesome, Town Police Lt. Nick Bado said the entrance to the northbound I-190 has been host to an inordinately high number of accidents over the years, including several fatalities.

“It’s one of our most hectic, irritating, busy spots,” Bado said.

The current design has several pitfalls. Cars exiting the I-190 have to merge right through traffic attempting to move left to get onto the highway as it exits the I-290. The short distance given to make that difficult lane shift leads drivers to speed up, but Bado said the sharp curve can prove too much for them to handle at high speeds.

Then, when accidents occur — as Bado says they frequently do — there is little or no shoulder to use to pull cars out of the road. That leaves cars in the way as more traffic speeds up the curve, which can lead to secondary collisions. Bado said he has had his police cruiser hit more than once while working accident scenes, and he’s far from the only one.

“A couple of our officers have sustained career-ending injuries up there handling other accidents,” Bado said.

Icy conditions further complicate matters in the winter, but Bado said high winds often blow snow drifts accumulated on previous days into the roadway even when there is little precipitation.

In an attempt to remedy the situation, the state Department of Transportation is undertaking a massive road construction project. But rather than try to repair the existing ramp, spokeswoman Susan Surdej said the department is starting over from scratch.

“We’re building a whole new ramp,” Surdej said. “The existing ramp is going to be completely replaced with one that widens the shoulders and changes the angles.”

Crews laid the groundwork last year and are continuing during this construction season. To afford the space needed to complete the job, the ramps connecting the two highways will be reduced from two lanes to one starting March 16. The connector ramp allowing traffic from Sheridan Drive onto the I-190 northbound will be closed entirely beginning March 18, with posted detours diverting traffic. But unlike other road work that shuts down ramps for a couple weeks, Surdej said this change will last through November.

“It’s going to be a long-term closure, so commuters will need to adjust to the alternate traffic patterns,” Surdej said.

Work will halt during winter, then resume in the spring of 2011. The DOT hopes to finish the project by December 2011.

Contact reporter Daniel Pyeat 693-1000, ext. 158.