The Interstate 81 Viaduct Project is celebrating two major milestones that will help speed efforts to improve resiliency and transform the transportation network in and around the City of Syracuse. The Federal Highway Administration has approved the formal redesignation of Interstate 481 as the new Interstate 81, clearing the way for high-speed traffic to transition away from downtown Syracuse and allow for the eventual removal of the viaduct itself. Additionally, the New York State Department of Transportation has awarded a $143.5 million contract to further advance the project by constructing a large, mile-long underground trunkline that will improve stormwater drainage, prevent flooding and better protect the local environment. The new contract — officially known as Contract 6a — also includes the reconstruction of several local streets along the trunkline route and the addition of new accommodations for pedestrians and cyclists.
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, these major developments in the I-81 Viaduct Project will help us deliver a reimagined transportation network that benefits the entire region while also creating more resilient infrastructure across Central New York. This project is about so much more than roads and bridges — it’s about how major transportation infrastructure can benefit an entire community. In the case of Contract 6a, this will come in the form of less overflow that often overwhelms Onondaga Creek and spills into Onondaga Lake, and less flooding situations along state and local infrastructure. At its core, the work that we will do below ground will have huge, visible impacts above ground, enhancing the quality of life for thousands across this region.”
