CNY drivers adjust as work is underway on I-81 project

SYRACUSE — Plenty of contractors are actively involved with different segments connected to the ongoing Interstate 81 (I-81) viaduct-replacement project. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) says four of the contracts focused on the project are currently in progress with more to come. “Central New Yorkers are resilient, so we tend to find a way around where there is construction, but we really haven’t seen significant delays on 81 or even on 481, which would cause people to take significant detours … but generally speaking, things are going very well from a delay standpoint,” said Dave Smith, NYSDOT region 3 director, when speaking with reporters on Aug. 5 at the Region 3 Signal Shop at 143 Sand Road in the town of Salina. Major construction has been underway at the existing I-481/I-81 northern and southern interchanges (future I-81/Business Loop 81) for more than one year, with work on a third contract recently starting on Syracuse’s Northside and Inner Harbor, Hochul’s office said in a Sept. 4 announcement. A fourth contract, which begins construction of the community grid on Syracuse’s Eastside, was awarded in July, and a fifth contract, which will begin construction of the southern portion of Business Loop 81 by the end of 2024, is anticipated to be awarded in the coming weeks. NYSDOT on Sept. 6 announced that the on-ramp from Genant Drive to I-81 southbound in Syracuse would be closed from Sept. 9 through the summer of 2025. The closure is necessary to facilitate the construction of on-and-off ramps from North Clinton Street to future Business Loop 81 southbound. “Contracts one, two, and three now all in construction … one and two last year and as you can see every day, if you drive around, you’re seeing changes out there and that’s simple indication that contractors are really getting a lot of work done,” Smith said. “And contract three just started within the last several weeks.” Work associated with the fourth contract (I-690 on-ramp from N. Crouse Ave.) began in August. The fifth contract focuses on area from Van Buren St. down to Colvin St., Smith said The state on Sept. 4 highlighted NYSDOT’s efforts in hiring local people to work on the contracts involved in the viaduct-replacement project. So far, 136 employees have been onboarded through the initiative and the goal is for each project contract to have locally hired workers representing at least 15 percent of its workforce. As of Sept. 4, contract one is at 13 percent, contract two is at 17 percent, and contract three is at 11 percent, per the state’s announcement. In the Aug. 5 session, Smith also told reporters, “Our website has a lot of information. We hope to roll out an app as well that people will be able to go to,” he said, noting that the NYSDOT public-information team is issuing public notices ahead of road closures and lane reductions.

New I-690 eastbound on-ramp

NYSDOT on the morning of Aug. 12 reduced I-690 eastbound to two lanes between the junction with Interstate 81 (I-81) southbound and exit 14 (Teall Avenue) for work connected to a project for a future on-ramp. The lane reduction is expected to continue through the spring of 2025, NYSDOT said. It is necessary for the reconstruction of bridges over North Crouse Avenue and Lodi Street and the construction of a new on-ramp from North Crouse Avenue to I-690 eastbound as part of the I-81 viaduct-replacement project. NYSDOT says drivers should anticipate travel delays and build extra travel time into their schedules. Additionally, the entrance ramp from North McBride Street to I-690 eastbound in Syracuse was closed to traffic on Aug. 12-13 for the removal of the curbed island at the top of the ramp as part of the I-81 project.

North side, Inner Harbor work

The third contract focuses on the City of Syracuse’s Northside and Inner Harbor areas and will include a reconstructed North Clinton Street with new pavement, sidewalks, a shared-use path and on-and-off ramps from future Business Loop 81. The work also includes three replacement bridges on Bear, Court, and Spencer Streets. These structures will be longer to fit over the expanded future Business Loop 81 and feature new sidewalks. Additionally, a shared-use path will be included on the Court and Spencer Street bridges. Pedestrians and cyclists will have improved access to the Empire State Trail through a new shared-use path constructed north of West Bear Street. A view in one of the new renderings shows the existing shared-use path along the Empire State Trail, south of West Bear Street, reconstructed and with amenities that include a bike-repair station, bike racks, and seating.