Spring is here and so too is construction season. 

A warning for drivers in Syracuse: Starting Monday, there will be more lane closures along parts of Interstate 81.

I-81 south between exits 23A, 23B, 22, and 20 will be reduced to one lane. The work is scheduled to occur daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

According to the New York state Department of Transportation, the closure is expected to last through May 2.

This work is part of the ongoing I-81 viaduct project.

National Work Zone Awareness Week kicked off Monday, bringing attention to the safety of work zone workers statewide.

“In my opinion, it’s one of the most important weeks that we celebrate all year because it brings about awareness on worker protection,” Marie Therese Dominguez, state DOT Commissioner said. 

The theme of the week is “Respect the zone so we all get home.”

“Our hope is that people will become more aware and again they will pay attention and slow down as they travel through work zones,” said Frank Hoare, executive director of the state Thruway Authority.

In 2024, there were more than 475 crashes in Thruway and DOT work zones, resulting in three deaths and more than 165 injuries. 

The majority of crashes were caused by either distracted driving, unsafe lane changes or disregard for traffic warning signs.

One initiative to keep workers safe is automatic work zone cameras, capturing drivers who are speeding in work zones. 

“We’re looking to continue that program because it’s been a success. We’ve seen drivers slow down throughout the state,” Hoare said. 

About 175,000 violations across the state were issued through the initiative, yet Hoare says there is still work to be done and that starts with doubling the number of cameras across the state in work zones.