Community grid

Lanessa Owens-Chaplin says Robinson was one of the first people who talked about removing the viaduct. At the time, she says it seemed like a far-fetched idea that would never happen.

DOT officials call Contract Four a "preparatory contract" to accommodate new traffic patterns when the I-81 viaduct is removed and replaced with Business Loop 81. An open house is being held Thursday.

The skills translate beyond the highway project, and can be applied to upcoming construction projects such as Micron's chip fab plant.

For example, the department of labor recently opened a jobseeker intake form to streamline the the hiring process.

The State Departments of Labor and Transportation are highlighting success with local hiring, ensuring city residents have the opportunity to work on the $2.25 billion project.

Residents on Fillmore Ave. are used to people cutting through Loretto from S. Salina Street or E. Glen Ave. But the volume has increased dramatically since construction has tied up traffic on nearby E. Brighton Ave. and the highway.

Monday kicks off the first of five open houses on a plan that examines how Syracuse can maximize the benefits of the I-81 viaduct removal.

I-690 eastbound will be reduced to two lanes starting Monday between I-81 and Teall Ave. for construction of a new interchange with Crouse and Irving Aves.

This phase of the I-81 project is the first to take place in the heart of Syracuse.

It's called Contract 3 by state DOT officials, and includes the "canyon" area north of I-690 to the Inner Harbor. The first two contracts are at the northern and southern interchanges with I-481.