SYRACUSE, N.Y. — State officials on Friday released the latest report along with dates for upcoming public hearings on the $2 billion Interstate 81 (I-81) viaduct-replacement project.
State officials favor the community grid alternative for the project, which would deconstruct a section of I-81 in downtown Syracuse and redirect highway traffic to I- 481. A portion of I-690 near the current intersection with I-81 would also be rebuilt and a boulevard-like Business Loop 81would be created in downtown.
Marie Therese Dominguez, commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT); Mark Frechette, project manager; and other DOT officials addressed reporters during a Friday morning briefing at the Senator John H. Hughes State Office Building at 333 E. Washington St. in Syracuse, next to Syracuse City Hall.
The report issued Friday is the DEIS, or the draft environmental-impact statement, available here.
The DOT — working with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) — crafted the DEIS after conducting “extensive outreach with the public and stakeholders” throughout the Central New York region, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a Friday release.
Public hearings
The public hearings on the DEIS for the I-81 viaduct project and eminent domain procedure law are set for Tuesday, Aug. 17 and Wednesday, Aug. 18.
The project team will be holding two virtual public hearings on Aug. 17 at 11 a.m. and then 5 p.m. To submit oral comments, please register at this link.
Registrants will be given a link to the Zoom hearing where you can make a public comment. A live stream of the hearing will be available for those who do not wish to make an oral comment.
The project team will also conduct two in-person public hearings on Aug. 18 at the Oncenter. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. A pre-recorded presentation will be shown at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., which will be followed by oral comments.
Public comment period
NYSDOT and FHWA will accept comments on the document through 5 p.m. eastern time on Sept. 14. The entities will summarize and respond to “all substantive comments received” in the final design report/final EIS for the project, per Cuomo’s office.
The public may submit comments using the department’s electronic comment form.
Find out more about the public hearings on the new I-81 website with the link:
https://webapps.dot.ny.gov/i-81-viaduct-project-public-outreach#_blank