It includes work on community grid, new I-690 off ramp          

SYRACUSE — Work on the community grid in downtown Syracuse and a new off ramp along Interstate 690 to South Crouse Avenue are both part of the fourth contract in the Interstate 81 (I-81) viaduct-replacement project.

The state awarded the $313.5 million contract to CNY Alliance, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced July 19.

Comprised of eight separate contracts, the I-81 viaduct project’s fourth contract focuses on providing a direct connection to University Hill, “the busiest employment, medical, and higher-education corridor in Syracuse,” Hochul’s office said.

CNY Alliance, LLC is continuation of a joint-venture relationship between Economy Paving Company, Inc. of Cortland; the Rifenburg Companies of Troy; and A. Servidone/B. Anthony Construction of Castleton, per its website. The joint venture recently completed the conversion of the New York State Thruway to the cashless and automated system of recording and tolling its patrons, the website noted.

CNY Alliance will begin construction on the community grid along streets on Syracuse’s east side in the former 15th Ward neighborhood, per Hochul’s announcement. The community grid will replace the elevated highway in downtown Syracuse.

The community grid will enhance mobility and access for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers, and most of all, will reconnect neighborhoods and residents, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said in the state’s announcement.

“The project will improve quality of life and grow economic opportunity in all Syracuse neighborhoods, especially for people living in the shadow of the viaduct who were harmed by I-81 for more than half a century,” Walsh said. “I thank Governor Hochul, [New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)] Commissioner [Marie Therese] Dominguez and the NYSDOT team for their continued support of this transformative project.”

Contract work

As part of contract four, crews will construct a new interchange along I-690 westbound at South Crouse Ave., creating an additional access point for commuters driving to Upstate Medical University and Upstate University Hospital, Crouse Hospital, Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse University, and the JMA Wireless Dome.

To accommodate the increase in traffic, South Crouse Ave. will be expanded from two to three lanes, with two lanes headed northbound and one lane going southbound.

Additionally, CNY Alliance will reconstruct Irving Ave. to accommodate traffic headed to University Hill. Currently, Irving Ave. ends at East Fayette Street, but as part of contract four, the street will be extended to Erie Boulevard East.

The street will also be expanded from two to three lanes — two lanes headed southbound, and one lane pointed northbound.

Crews will also build a new interchange along I-690 eastbound to the extended Irving Ave. at Erie Boulevard East in future contract six, providing a second access point for suburban commuters headed up the hill.

The new interchanges at South Crouse and Irving Avenues will relieve traffic congestion currently causing backups along I-81 northbound and southbound at the Harrison/Adams interchanges, Hochul’s office contends. Additionally, the new access points will “eliminate the bottleneck along” Almond Street (future Business Loop 81) caused by an influx of commuters headed to University Hill.

Work within the fourth contract also includes the start of major upgrades to Syracuse’s and Onondaga County’s drainage system, separating storm water and sanitary sewer flow. Crews will install about 2,200 linear feet, nearly half a mile, of drainage trunk line on Erie Boulevard East, between Almond Street and University Avenue, separating the city’s rainwater runoff and sewage flow.

The stormwater will run to Onondaga Creek and the sewage will head to Onondaga County’s wastewater-treatment facility for chemical treatment, Hochul’s office said.

Currently, the city and county storm water runoff and sewage systems are combined, flowing to Onondaga County’s wastewater treatment facility where it is chemically treated and turned into clean water. By separating rainwater from sanitary sewage, it reduces the amount of sewer flow into the system, prevents overloading, and cuts back on the amount of chemicals needed for treatment.

A total of 20 million to 30 million gallons of combined sewer overflow will be removed from the city’s drainage system as a result of the project, supporting Onondaga County Department of Water Environmental Protection’s continued effort to separate the sewer system, ultimately assisting with the facility’s consent order with the Department of Environmental Conservation to clean up Onondaga Lake and Onondaga Creek.