SYRACUSE -- Here’s a heads-up if you plan to take Interstate 81 through Syracuse next weekend. The State DOT has announced that part of the highway will be shut down for another round of road work.
The DOT says the portion of I-81 northbound in the city will be closed to all traffic past the Adams Street off-ramp. The on-ramp from Almond Street to I-81 north will be reduced to one lane. This closure begins at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 4 and will last through 6:00 p.m. the following Monday, though they also say additional repairs or weather may delay the reopening of the highway.
In a statement explaining the need for the repairs, the DOT says “Recent inspections found several areas of loose concrete in the bridge deck of elevated I-81 near the I-690 interchange. NYSDOT has determined that the best option is to remove the loose material and replace it with new concrete. These full-depth patches require that traffic be kept away from the repair areas. Performing the repairs over the weekend means fewer motorists will be inconvenienced.”
The DOT suggests drivers passing through Syracuse from the south use Interstate 481. Those who need to get into the city will have to exit onto Almond Street. Drivers should expect traffic delays in the affected areas.
