The New York State Department of Transportation released the long-awaited draft environmental impact statement on the I-81 project last Friday. Since then, questions have been coming into our newsroom about construction and the impact on commuters.

Phase one of the I-81 project will have almost nothing to do with the actual 1.2 miles of elevated roadway through downtown Syracuse.

What You Need To Know

  • Public comment is now open on the I-81 Viaduct through September 14 by email or regular mail

  • Public hearings will be held virtually August 17 and in-person August 18 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the OnCenter

  • Construction is set to begin sometime in 2022

Project Director Mark Frechette says phase one will be broken up into five different projects, lasting at least two years. Phase one projects will cost taxpayers about $800 million.

“So people coming into the city or leaving the city in those first couple of years of construction will not be impacted and the viaduct will remain open,” said Mark Frechette, the NYSDOT I-81 project director.

All five projects will have staggered starts to begin in 2022. Frechette says steps one and two will include expanding and improving I-481, which is going to become the new Interstate 81. The other three projects will provide access to the proposed community grid before tearing down the 1.2 mile viaduct.

“We will be replacing the Butternut, Court, Spencer and Bear Street bridges," said Frechette. "We will totally rebuild the Clinton Street corridor. It’s really about trying to create the neighborhood linkages between the northeast communities and the inner harbor and Destiny, so there’s pedestrian, bicycle, transit accommodations."

Other parts of phase one include a new Colvin Street off-ramp that will serve the Southside, University, and outer Comstock neighborhoods, along with the proposed roundabout at Martin Luther King Boulevard. Additionally, a new ramp will be added from I-690 East to Irving Avenue. Only then will the demolition of the viaduct begin.

“For the next number of years, I-81 will still be in use for the public to utilize,” said Frechette.

The New York State Department of Transportation wants to hear comments and concerns from citizens.

The public comment time is now through September 14. The public is also urged to attend the public hearings with the New York State Department of Transportation virtually on August 17 and in-person on August 18 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the OnCenter.