I-81 Travel Advisories

 The New York State Department of Transportation is advising motorists that Interstate 81 will be reduced to one lane, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., on weekdays, beginning Monday, March 9, through Tuesday, March 31, at the following locations in the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, to facilitate pavement repairs as part of the I-81 Viaduct Project:

• Interstate 81 northbound between Exit 17 (S Salina St/Brighton Ave) and Exit 18 (Adams St/Harrison St).
• Interstate 81 southbound between Exits 18 (Harrison St/Adams St) and Exit 17 (S State St/S Salina St/Brighton Ave).

Construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change based on conditions.

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.

Follow the I-81 Viaduct Project on Facebook, Instagram, and X or visit our website.

The New York State Department of Transportation is advising motorists that Interstate 690 eastbound will be reduced to one lane between the Interstate 81 northbound on-ramp and Exit 14 (Teall Avenue) in the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, daily, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., beginning Monday, March 9, through Friday, March 13, to facilitate construction activities as part of the Interstate 81 Viaduct Project.

Construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change based on conditions.

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.

Follow the I-81 Viaduct Project on Facebook, Instagram, and X or visit our website.

The New York State Department of Transportation is alerting motorists that South Bay Road will be closed to southbound traffic between East Pine Grove Road and East Circle Drive, in the Town of Cicero, Onondaga County, beginning at 6 a.m. on Monday, March 2, through 6 p.m. on Friday, May 15. The northbound lane on South Bay Road will remain open to traffic. The closure is necessary to finish constructing the South Bay Road bridge’s approaches and installing guiderail and pavement markings to complete the replacement of the bridge over Intestate 81 as part of the I-81 Viaduct Project.

Motorists are advised to follow the signed detour that directs southbound traffic north on South Bay Road, to south on Thompson Road, to south on Northern Boulevard, to north on Interstate 481, to Exit 1B (Circle Drive/North Syracuse), old Exit 10, to east on Circle Drive, to South Bay Road.

Additionally, a temporary traffic signal will be operational at the northbound and southbound approaches of the South Bay Road bridge over I-81. Emergency vehicles traveling southbound on South Bay Road that need to cross the South Bay Road bridge will utilize a preemption system to clear the bridge of all traffic, allowing first responders to cross the bridge safely. 

Construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change based on conditions.

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.

Follow the I-81 Viaduct Project on Facebook, Instagram, and X or visit our website.

The New York State Department of Transportation is advising motorists that the Interstate 81 southbound off-ramp to Exit 29S (Interstate 481 South/DeWitt) in the Town of Cicero, Onondaga County, will permanently close around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4, to facilitate a new traffic pattern as part of the I-81 Viaduct Project.

Around 12 p.m., on Tuesday, November 4, motorists traveling on I-81 southbound to I-481 southbound should follow the overhead signs directing traffic to merge onto I-481 southbound using the left two lanes - just north of the South Bay Road bridge. In the future this traffic pattern will become the new I-81 southbound mainline. See attached map.

Construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change based on conditions.

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.

Follow the I-81 Viaduct Project on Facebook, Instagram, and X or visit our website.

The New York State Department of Transportation is advising motorists that the Kirkville Road eastbound on-ramp to Interstate 481 southbound in the Town of DeWitt, Onondaga County, will be closed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., weekdays, beginning Friday, October 3, until early April 2026, to facilitate bridge work over the CSX railyard as part of the I-81 Viaduct Project.

Motorists are advised to follow the signed detour that directs traffic east on Kirkville Road, to I-481 northbound, to Exit 5W (Kirkville Rd), to west on Kirkville Road, to I-481 southbound.

Construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change based on conditions.

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.

Follow the I-81 Viaduct Project on Facebook, Instagram, and X or visit our website.

The New York State Department of Transportation is alerting motorists of the following traffic pattern changes planned for East Glen Avenue and East Brighton Avenue in the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, to facilitate the switch from the current traffic alignment to the new traffic alignment as part of the Interstate 81 Viaduct Project.

• Traffic on East Glen Avenue will be shifted south to the new East Glen Avenue alignment connecting to the East Brighton Avenue northern roundabout on Monday, July 28. Additionally, a new East Glen Avenue on-ramp to I-81 southbound will open on Monday, July 28.
• The Interstate 481 southbound off-ramp to Interstate 81 northbound and the East Brighton Avenue on-ramp to I-81 northbound will permanently close at 7 a.m. on Monday, July 28, to facilitate the demolition of bridges along East Glen Avenue and East Brighton Avenue and to construct on-and-off-ramps at the new East Glen Avenue Bridge.
  • Motorists traveling on I-481 southbound to I-81 northbound are advised to follow the signed detour that directs traffic to Exit 1 (Brighton Ave), to East Glen Avenue, to I-81 southbound, to Exit 16 (Onondaga Nation/Nedrow), to south on U.S. Route 11, to I-81 northbound.
  • Motorists traveling on East Brighton Avenue to I-81 northbound are advised to follow the signed detour that directs traffic to East Glen Avenue, to I-81 southbound, to Exit 16 (Onondaga Nation/Nedrow) to south on U.S. Route 11, to I-81 northbound.
  • Motorists traveling on I-481 southbound to I-81 southbound are advised to follow the signed detour that directs traffic to Exit 1 (Brighton Ave), to East Glen Avenue, to I-81 southbound.

Beginning on Wednesday, August 20, at 6 a.m., the permanent alignment on East Glen Avenue and East Brighton Avenue will be fully operational. Traffic on I-481 southbound to I-81 northbound and East Brighton Avenue to I-81 northbound will no longer need to detour and should use the following traffic patterns:

• Traffic on I-481 southbound to I-81 northbound will use Exit 1 (Brighton Avenue), to East Glen Avenue, to I-81 northbound.
• Traffic on East Brighton Avenue to I-81 northbound will travel west on East Glen Avenue to I-81 northbound.

Construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change based on conditions.

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.

Follow the I-81 Viaduct Project on Facebook, Instagram, and X or visit our website.

The New York State Department of Transportation is alerting motorists of a traffic pattern change related to the Interstate 81 Viaduct Project. On Wednesday, June 11, at 7 a.m., Fineview Place, between Renwick Avenue and Standart Street, in the City of Syracuse, will permanently close to traffic in both directions. The alignment of Fineview Place between Renwick Avenue and Standard Street is being replaced by future Business Loop 81 and the closure is necessary to facilitate construction of the new roadway.

Additionally, East Raynor Avenue between Fineview Place and Henry Street will be closed in both directions beginning at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11 and will reopen when Business Loop 81 northbound is complete and open to traffic.

Construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change based on conditions.

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.

Follow the I-81 Viaduct Project on Facebook, Instagram, and X or visit our website.

The New York State Department of Transportation is alerting motorists of a traffic pattern change related to the Interstate 81 Viaduct Project. On Wednesday, June 4, at 7 a.m. Renwick Avenue, between Martin Luther King East and Van Buren Street, in the City of Syracuse, will permanently close to traffic in both directions. The current alignment of Renwick Avenue is being replaced by future Business Loop 81 and the closure is necessary to facilitate construction of the new roadway.

Construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change based on conditions.

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.

Follow the I-81 Viaduct Project on Facebook, Instagram, and X or visit our website.

The New York State Department of Transportation is alerting motorists that on Friday, November 1, Bear Street will be closed between Sunset Avenue and Solar Street in the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County and will reopen in the summer of 2025. The closure is necessary to demolish the Bear Street Bridge over I-81 and construct a new longer bridge that will accommodate the expanded future Business Loop 81 (existing I-81) as part of the I-81 Viaduct Project.

Motorists are advised to follow the signed detours:

• Westbound traffic will be directed to south on Lodi Street, to west on Court Street, to north on Solar Street, to west on Bear Street.

• Eastbound traffic will be directed to south on Solar Street to east on Court Street, to north on Lodi Street, to east on Bear Street.

• To access I-81 southbound, motorists traveling westbound on Bear Street should follow the signed detour south on Lodi Street, to west on Court Street, to south on Solar Street, to west on Spencer Street, to north on North Clinton Street, to west on Division Street, to I-81 southbound.

Construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change based on conditions.

Drivers are asked to use caution when traveling through the work zone area and pay attention to all traffic control devices, including signs and flaggers.

Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in work zones. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license.

Follow the I-81 Viaduct Project on Facebook, Instagram, and X or visit our website.

The New York State Department of Transportation is advising motorists that beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, August 12, Interstate 690 eastbound will be reduced to two lanes of traffic from the junction with Interstate 81 southbound to Exit 14 (Teall Avenue) in the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County. The lane reduction is expected to continue through the spring of 2025 and is necessary to facilitate the reconstruction of bridges over North Crouse Avenue and Lodi Street and the construction of a new on ramp from North Crouse Avenue to I-690 eastbound as part of the I-81 Viaduct Project.

Motorists should anticipate travel delays and build extra travel time into their schedules.

Construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change based on conditions.

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.

Follow the I-81 Viaduct Project on Facebook, Instagram, and X or visit our website.

The New York State Department of Transportation is advising motorists that Interstate 481 southbound traffic will be crossed over to northbound lanes between south of the bridge over the CSX railyard and Exit 4 (I-690 West) in the Town of DeWitt, Onondaga County, beginning Monday, March 25, at 9 a.m. The crossover is necessary to facilitate the expansion of the bridge over Manlius Center Road as part of the I-81 Viaduct project and is expected to be in place through the end of November.

Construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change based on conditions.

Drivers are asked to use caution when traveling through the work zone area and pay attention to all traffic control devices, including signs and flaggers.

Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in work zones. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license.

Follow the I-81 Viaduct Project on X, formerly known as Twitter: @NYSDOTI81. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/NYSDOTI81. 

The Interstate 81 southbound ramp at exit 16A, which provides access to Interstate 481 north, will close to traffic beginning around 9 a.m. on Monday, September 11, with the newly-aligned ramp expected to open in the spring of 2025. 
 
The closure is necessary to begin preparations for a newly constructed interchange that will connect future Business Loop 81 southbound to the re-designated I-81 northbound.
 
Message boards posted on I-81 southbound will direct detoured traffic to exit 17 (South State and Salina Streets and Brighton Avenue) prior to the closed exit ramp. Detour signs will direct traffic from South State Street to Brighton Avenue and then to Rock Cut Road and I-481 northbound.
 

Drivers are asked to use caution when traveling through the work zone area and pay attention to all traffic control devices, including signs and flaggers. 
 
Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in work zones. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license.