Work that was scheduled for Interstate 81 in Syracuse this week has been postponed, New York state’s Department of Transportation has announced.

The work involves I-81 between the 16A and 17 exits. Partial lane closures had been scheduled for this week.

"These closures have been postponed. The Department of Transportation will keep the public informed on when this work will resume," the DOT said Monday afternoon.

The work is part of the $2.25 billion I-81 viaduct project that will eventually remove the elevated highway that runs through Syracuse and redesign the downtown portion of I-81 into a community grid.

The project already closed the ramp from I-481 southbound to I-81 southbound in September. The ramp will reopen in spring 2025, the DOT said, as the new I-81 southbound. The I-81 southbound ramp at exit 16A also closed in September to begin preparations for a new interchange that will connect the future southbound business loop 81 to I-81 northbound.

The eventual closures are needed so crews can remove steel bridge beams for the demolition of the I-481 southbound ramp bridge, the DOT said.

Signed detours will take drivers northbound to exit 16A, then to exit 1 — Brighton Avenue and Rock Cut Road. Southbound drivers will be sent to exit 17 — South Salina Street and Brighton Avenue — to Route 11, then to I-81 south.