Information session in Camillus added to I-81 debate

I-81 session at Dr. King school

More than 100 people showed up at Dr. King Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, to question parts of the plan that would tear down a portion of Interstate 81 in Syracuse. Teri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.com

The federal government has added an information session in Camillus for residents on the western side of Onondaga County to voice their opinions about rebuilding I-81.

The session will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Town of Camillus Municipal Building, 4600 W. Genesee St.

The Federal Highway Administration has extended the public comment period through Oct. 14.

Transportation officials are proposing to tear down a portion of I-81 that runs between downtown Syracuse and the University Hill area. Instead, highway traffic would be rerouted around the city onto a larger Interstate 481. A portion of Interstate 690 in the heart of the city would also be rebuilt.

This idea, which the state calls the “community grid” plan, would disperse traffic headed to and from Syracuse onto a combination of city streets and new highway exits. The part of I-81 that runs from I-690 north to the current exchange with I-481 would remain high-speed.

There are several ways to voice opinions about the project:

Online

You can fill out an online form or you can send an email to this address: i81opportunities@dot.ny.gov.

By phone

Call 1-855-I81-TALK or 1-855-481-8255.

Write a letter

Mark Frechette, P.E., Project Director, New York State Department of Transportation, Region 3, 333 East Washington Street, Syracuse, NY 13202

Rick Marquis, Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Leo W. O’Brien Federal Building, 11A Clinton Avenue, Suite 719, Albany, NY 12207.

READ MORE ON I-81

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Construction could begin next year but when would hulking highway come down

See the entire I-81 plan with maps, data and more

Contact Michelle Breidenbach | mbreidenbach@syracuse.com | 315-470-3186.

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