SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Even though a court battle has the project currently on hold, New York State has awarded the first construction contract for the Interstate 81 (I-81) viaduct-replacement plan.
The Office of the State Comptroller on Thursday night approved an award of more than $296 million to Salt City Contractors, LLC, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) announced Friday afternoon.
Salt City Contractors is a group of three contractors — Lancaster Development and Tully Construction Co., LLC, doing business as L&T Construction in Richmondville in Schoharie County; D.A. Collins Construction Co., Inc. of Wilton in Saratoga County; and Cold Spring Construction Co., Inc. of Akron in Erie County.
The initial contract focuses on reconstructing the existing I-81/I-481 northern interchange into Business Loop 81 and I-81 and expanding portions of the former I-481 from two to three lanes to the Kirkville Road interchange.
Construction work is currently held up by a lawsuit that the group Renew 81 for All filed against the project, concerned about the environmental review that was conducted. New York State Supreme Court Judge Gerald Neri heard arguments on the lawsuit on Thursday.