A major component of the next phase of the I-81 project begins Monday on Syracuse’s north side. WAER News caught up with state DOT communications specialist Sabrina Betts at the Spencer Street bridge over I-81 to find out more about what the project entails.
“Three bridges in total need to be reconstructed and Spencer Street Bridge is up first," Betts said. "So as part of that work, we basically have to reconstruct Spencer Street Bridge in order to lengthen it, and we're lengthening it in order to accommodate the expanded Business Loop 81.”
The wider Business Loop is intended to accommodate traffic heading to destinations in the city center, but not through it. The DOT will also remove and rebuild the Court and Bear street bridges. Betts says motorists who use this stretch of I-81 can expect some delays.
“One to two lanes will need to be closed daily while the bridges are being demolished, but we are committed to maintaining 2 lanes of traffic on I-81 during those peak hours of the morning and afternoon commutes,” Betts said.
For more than a year, construction has been underway at the northern and southern interchanges with I-481. Betts says this is the first phase of the I-81 project to take place in the heart of the city.
“Certainly, for those who do drive through Cicero or the valley, you've seen kind of the transformation of those landscapes and how quickly that's happened," Betts said. "And now this is really the most visible in terms of the urban landscapes.”
The new Spencer Street Bridge will be in place by summer 2025.
The NYS DOT has advised motorists to follow the signed detours:
· Westbound traffic will be directed to North State Street, north on Lodi Street, west on Court Street, south on North Clinton Street, and west on Spencer Street.
· Eastbound traffic will be directed to North Clinton Street, east on Court Street, south on Lodi Street, south on North State Street, and east on Spencer Street.
· To access I-81 southbound, motorists traveling westbound on Spencer Street should follow the signed detour to North State Street, north on Lodi Street, west on Court Street, south on North Clinton Street, east on West Division Street, south on Genant Drive, to I-81 southbound.
