State awards fourth contract in the I-81 project, focused on community grid, I-690

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The fourth construction contract for the Interstate 81 (I-81) viaduct-replacement project will focus on the community grid, Interstate 690 (I-690), and South Crouse Ave. in Syracuse.

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

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.

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.