More details are out regarding a portion of the Interstate-81 Project that will affect traffic just south of the City of Syracuse. Drivers usually have the option to directly connect to I-481 North. But, beginning Monday, September 11th the onramp Exit 16-A DeWitt from I-81 South to I-481 North will close to allow crews to begin constructing the new on-ramp and won’t re-open until the Spring of 2025. State DOT Communications Coordinator of the I-81 Project, TeNesha Murphy encourages drivers to take the advance detour signs seriously that will be placed on I-81 South before the road site.
“You get up to the 16-A entrance exit ramp that says I-481 North to DeWitt and that is what is going to close. It’s not a really busy ramp. I think a lot of people are like, ‘What are they even talking about?' There’s only 4,500 cars that go through there per day but, that’s the ramp that’s closing.”
Murphy wants drivers to know only the Exit 16-A connector ramp to I-481 North will close. If they follow the detours near State Street and Brighton Avenue exits, they’ll be able to get on I-481 from Rock Cut Road.
Earlier this summer, Governor Kathy Hochul and U-S Senator Chuck Schumer held a symbolic ground-breaking as work was just beginning where I-81 and I-481 connect in the Cicero-North Syracuse area. Now, with the project south of the city about to begin, Murphy says it will finally feel as though the project is taking shape.
“And the work down by Loretto and by Brighton Towers and basically in the Valley area of Syracuse. If you drove through there right now, you would really see no work happening. But, then suddenly on September 11th, boom! They’re going to get started.”
She welcomes residents who have any questions to visit the I-81 Project D-O-T booth at the State Fair. It’ll be there all weekend across from the Sand Sculpture in the Horticulture Building.
