The Onondaga Lake Parkway bridge
/ file photo
LIVERPOOL -- The State Department of Transportation is requesting the public’s input on possible changes to the Onondaga Lake Parkway in the wake of a major bus crash that claimed four lives last year.
In a statement to the media released Tuesday afternoon, the State DOT says it is looking to increase the prohibition of tractor-trailers from the Parkway to include all commercial vehicles. Commercial traffic would instead be diverted down Old Liverpool Road between Interstate 81 and the Village of Liverpool.
"Banning all commercial vehicles from the Onondaga Lake Parkway will significantly enhance our efforts to end over-height vehicle crashes into the low-clearance CSX railroad bridge over the roadway," said DOT Commissioner Joan McDonald. "We encourage the public to comment on this proposal, which is just one of a series of aggressive measures the State Department of Transportation is taking to improve traffic safety on this busy parkway."
The DOT says the CSX railroad bridge clearance is 11 feet, nine inches, but the signs leading up to the bridge warn vehicles more than 10 feet, nine inches tall from going underneath in order to avoid crashing into it. A double-decker Megabus crashed into the bridge in the early morning hours last September 11, killing four people and injuring two dozen others. The driver, John Tomaszewski of New Jersey, has been charged with four counts of criminally negligent homicide.
Comments on the commercial vehicle exclusion may be sent by email to: ParkwayCommercialExclusion@dot.state.ny.us
Written comments can be mailed to:
Regional Director
NYSDOT Region 3
333 East Washington Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
The DOT says all comments must be received by July 19.
Click here to read an updated version of the state's report.
