The disruption for drivers, residents, and businesses during the long-term I-81 replacement project is inevitable. But a Syracuse business in the heart of the construction wants to make sure customers can access his storefront.
Traffic roars by on I-690 right behind CNY Uniforms Plus at Lodi and Burnet as construction continues on the highway. Crews have also been working on adjacent streets, replacing curbs, sidewalks, utilities, and other infrastructure. That's what's impacted access to the business. This week, signs from both the state and business say the business is open, but in the past, owner Tai Shaw said customers couldn't get to his front door. He complained to Department of Transportation leaders at a recent common council meeting.
“I'm suffering because the same spot, right in front of my driveway, they’ve dug up five times," Shaw said. "And when you close the street, you're not closing one or two streets, you are blocking the whole entire four corners. There's no other way to come around to my business.”
State DOT regional director Betsy Parmley said she recognizes the level of disruption near Shaw’s store.
“I am truly sorry for the impacts to your business," she said. “I can say that work is almost done. There’s some National Grid work that has to be completed and we'll hopefully be out of there in the foreseeable future. I apologize."
"This is a long time. What is the future?" a frustrated Shaw snapped. "The next two months, three months? It's been 12 months, 18 months already. How long is it going to be? Pretty soon, I’m not going to exist anymore.”
Parmley said the work immediately in front of Shaw’s business should wrap up in a few weeks. But the work on I-690 is long-term, as the highway is transformed to link to the community grid.
