SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Transportation announced on Friday that the Interstate 81 Viaduct Project reached its second phase, where work on the “Community Grid” begins.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez called the achievement a milestone. She said work will now focus on removing outdated infrastructure that has divided parts of Syracuse.

It will also focus on constructing a new transportation network to reconnect the parts that divided the community. Commissioner Dominguez said it will improve access for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

Additionally, the State Department of Transportation announced that it awarded a $2.1 billion contract to the CNY Alliance. Part of the construction contract includes the reconstruction and realignment of a key stretch of Interstate 690, the rehabilitation of 25 local streets and the buildout of new, easy-to-navigate access points to the city center.

The first phase began in 2023. It focused on improvements needed for the redesignation of Interstate 481 as the new I-81 and to keep traffic moving during the removal of the viaduct. This included the reconstruction of the northern and southern interchanges of Interstate 481 and I-81, and the preliminary work to create what will become Business Loop 81.

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Specifically, for the second phase, construction crews will focus on dismantling the viaduct and creating the new infrastructure that will support the Community Grid.

It will be centered around the reconstruction of I-690 in both directions from Leavenworth Avenue on Syracuse’s near Westside to North Crouse Avenue on the city’s Eastside. Fifteen lane miles of this crucial east-west artery will be removed and rebuilt in a similar alignment to accommodate its connections with future Business Loop 81 and a full interchange at North Crouse and Irving Avenues.

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You can find all updates and information related to the Interstate 81 Viaduct Community Project at this link.