SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) says it will “highlight in detail” additional features of the Interstate 81 viaduct replacement project in the coming weeks.
NYSDOT will hold public hearings on the project, both virtually and at the Oncenter, in mid-August, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday.
The release of the DEIS, or the draft environmental impact statement has also drawn reaction from Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and Town of Salina officials Nicholas Paro and David Carnie.
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Additional features
Additional project features that NYSDOT will highlight in detail in the coming weeks will include:
- A Gateway to the City at the entrance to Business Loop 81 featuring a roundabout at Business Loop 81 and Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
- A new off-ramp from Business Loop 81 northbound at Colvin Street
- Bear Street improvements
- Reconstruction of Almond Street to include two 12-foot-wide travel lanes in each direction, widened sidewalks and bicycle facilities
- A new third lane on I-481 between the Thruway and I-690; and a “greatly improved” Exit 3
- A new full interchange on I-690 at Crouse and Irving Avenues to provide more direct connections to hospitals, employment centers, and educational facilities on University Hill
- A reconfigured West Street Exit
- Sewer-system upgrades that will improve stormwater management and water quality
After federal approval, the project will break ground in 2022, Cuomo’s office said.
Preliminary plans call for phase 1 to include work on the northern and southern sections of Business Loop 81; work on I-690 over Crouse and Irving Avenues; and the conversion of I-481 to I-81 including several road and bridge projects along the corridor.
Walsh reaction
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh reacted to the report in a statement his office issued Friday morning.
“The world is watching Syracuse to see how transportation projects can strengthen communities and create opportunity for people. We are one step closer to showing them.
The DEIS confirms the Community Grid is the best alternative to replace the Interstate 81 Viaduct and generate positive transformation. The comprehensive evaluation resolves many of the concerns raised about the Community Grid. Now, we need to work together as a City and a region to address any remaining challenges and issues.
We have to ensure the people who live, work and go to school closest to the viaduct are protected and that neighborhoods that were harmed by the highway receive investment without community displacement. Local control and influence on land use will create the best long-term outcome for the community.
We need to listen to concerns that exist outside of the City and make sure they are addressed in the final project. I am ready to partner with communities all around Syracuse to ensure their interests are considered. I urge people across the region to learn the facts about the project and to participate in the public input process.
On a project that will exceed $2 billion in spending, we must make sure local people who have been bypassed for jobs in the past, especially women, minorities and veterans, have the chance to get training, jobs and careers. Taking advantage of new local hiring provisions enacted by the Biden Administration can help families in Syracuse break out of poverty and achieve a better standard of living.
I commend Governor Cuomo, the New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration on their work for the people of New York State and look forward to working with them on the next stages of this project. I urge approval of the bipartisan infrastructure bill being considered in Washington. Its provisions will help Syracuse fully realize the opportunities this once in a generation project presents,” Walsh said.
Town of Salina reaction
At the same time, Town of Salina officials Nicholas Paro and David Carnie issued a separate statement on the I-81 DEIS.
“A large and diverse group of concerned citizens from all across the region remains extremely frustrated that the New York State Department of Transportation has repeatedly failed to listen to the comments and questions from local residents, business owners, and other members of the impacted community over the past decade. We are incredibly encouraged by the high level of engagement and support that has been expressed by the majority of local residents in our community who believe that Syracuse and Onondaga County both deserve a more comprehensive infrastructure plan for the future of Interstate 81. The existing 12-year-old community grid-only proposal is tired, will greatly increase traffic throughout city neighborhoods and damage businesses across the region. With the DOT now finally opening a period of public comments, we encourage all to take time over the coming months to review all published materials and demand that the DOT make the necessary changes to fulfill a plan that meets the needs of all residents here in the impacted communities.”
On Thursday, Town of Salina Supervisor Colleen Gunnip issued a town statement on the public-comment period.
“For years now, New York state officials have refused to speak with residents or local officials from the Town of Salina. We have been ignored and forgotten, even though our town stands to lose the most if Interstate 81 is replaced with a community grid-only design. New York has not considered the irreparable economic impacts such a project would have on our community. Salina relies heavily on its proximity to Interstate 81, and a community grid’s rerouting of traffic would decimate our small businesses, tax base and local economy.
Hopefully, New York State officials will finally begin to listen to the concerns of all constituents through this period of public comment and adopt changes into a new project proposal that works for all stakeholders. It’s well past time for Albany DOT to actually listen to our concerns, and frustration that it’s taken years for this official public comment period to begin.”
DOT response
When asked about addressing the concerns of the Town of Salina, project manager Mark Frechette told reporters during a Friday morning briefing, “We’ve met with them … One of the things I’m most proud of about the project is the engagement that we’ve done with the community … we’ve been in Salina for public meetings, we’ve been in Clay, we’ve been in Cicero, we’ve met with the hotel owners. We’ve met with Pilot. We’ve met with La Fayette and Camillus and DeWitt … We’ve went out to engage people, and it’s really led to a better project. People are able to give us information. So, what’s included in this document is a more significant economic analysis that was performed to take a look at and to try to address some of the concerns. When you look at North Syracuse, we have no construction work going on in North Syracuse on 81, other than to switch the signs to Business Loop 81. Our work for the Community Grid alternative construction work is around Hiawatha Boulevard where Destiny [USA] is, so north of there … we pick up with construction work up at the interchange where 81 and 481 is, so no work at the airport, no work at the Thruway, no work at North Syracuse. It’s going to function exactly like it is today as a high-speed freeway. It may not be called an interstate, but it’ll function like a freeway and we’re doing the same thing on the southern side,” said Frechette.
