State Department of Transportation to Host Open House on First Two Contracts Associated with Phase Two of the I-81 Viaduct Project

State Department of Transportation to Host Open House on First Two Contracts Associated with Phase Two of the I-81 Viaduct Project

The New York State Department of Transportation will host the first in a series of open houses on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. pertaining to Contracts 6 and 6a, which were awarded as part of Phase Two of the transformative I-81 Viaduct Project. These two contracts will focus on the removal of outdated infrastructure that has divided the City of Syracuse for decades, the construction of a new transportation network that will connect communities and improve multimodal access to key destinations downtown and build on upgrades to the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County's drainage infrastructure, helping to prevent overflows and facilitate more efficient wastewater treatment.

The informal, open-house-style meeting will be held at Palladian Hall at The Treasury, 101 South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13202. Project renderings and videos will be available for review and NYSDOT representatives, along with the Prime Contractors, will be available to answer questions. No formal presentation is planned.

As it pertains to Contract 6, this first open house will be centered around the early stages of work. Additionally, motorists will receive an in-depth look at the reconstruction of Interstate 690 eastbound and the detour that will direct traffic coming from Syracuse's near Westside neighborhoods and Onondaga County's western and northern suburbs onto city streets for approximately two years, beginning in late 2027.

Contract 6, awarded in July, prioritizes the reconstruction and realignment of I-690 in both directions from Leavenworth Avenue on Syracuse's near Westside, to North Crouse Avenue, on the city's Eastside. This contract also establishes new interchanges between Business Loop 81 and I-690, completes a full interchange at North Crouse and Irving Avenues, creates an at-grade intersection at West Street and West Genesee Street, and creates new and improved access points for drivers traveling to or from downtown Syracuse. Additionally, 25 local streets will be rehabilitated and reconstructed, with the addition of new sewer and water lines, decorative lighting, sidewalks, shared use paths and trees.

The open house will also highlight the initial work happening as part of Contract 6a, awarded in September. An eight-by-ten foot concrete stormwater trunkline designed to catch stormwater runoff from roadways and bridges will be constructed beneath Almond Street, East Water Street, State Street, Erie Boulevard, Salina Street and Herald Place. The trunkline is part of a comprehensive package of upgrades to the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County's drainage infrastructure that will create separate systems for the handling of stormwater and sewage, which will help prevent flooding along the highway and reduce combined sewer overflow to Onondaga Creek that spills into Onondaga Lake. Additionally, five local streets along the trunkline route will be rehabilitated and reconstructed to include enhanced accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists, along with the replacement of traffic signals, signs, striping, lighting and trees.

Information about NYSDOT's community health protections will also be available at the open house, including locations of air quality and vibration monitors across the project's work areas.

Parking will be available to the public inside The Treasury Building Garage, located at 119 East Washington Street, Syracuse, NY 13202. To receive the discounted open house parking rate of $5, guests must scan a QR code at the sign-in table upon entering the open house. Additionally, there is on-street parking and nearby lots with free parking after 6 p.m.

For more information on the I-81 Viaduct Project, click here.

This open house is part of NYSDOT's ongoing commitment to public engagement and communication in the construction of transformative transportation projects.

Palladian Hall at The Treasury is accessible to people with disabilities. Please contact TeNesha Murphy at 315-728-4251 if a sign language interpreter, assisted listening system, or other accommodation will be required to facilitate your participation in the open house. For additional information on the project, please email [email protected].

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About the Department of Transportation:

It is the mission of the New York State Department of Transportation to provide a safe, reliable, equitable, and resilient transportation system that connects communities, enhances quality of life, protects the environment, and supports the economic well-being of New York State.

Lives are on the line; slow down and move over for highway workers!

For more information, find us on Facebook, follow us on X or Instagram, or visit our website. For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.

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