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The southbound Genant Drive ramp to Interstate 81 has closed for construction associated with the city of Syracuse’s $2.25 billion I-81 viaduct removal project, syracuse.com first reported Monday morning. The stretch of road will remain nonoperational until summer 2025.

The ramp is a commonly used route for drivers leaving attractions surrounding Onondaga Lake, including the Destiny USA mall and the Inner Harbor. A recent New York State Department of Transportation travel advisory states that the city plans to build on-and-off ramps from North Clinton Street to the proposed Business Loop 81 southbound.

The new loop, first announced in July 2023, will revitalize an existing portion of I-81. The proposal will add a median, bike lanes, on-street parking, sidewalks and landscaping to the existing stretch of the road. The plan also includes a new Lodi Overlook, a section in the northern portion of the loop with a view of Onondaga Lake for pedestrians.

The closure is the third of eight construction contracts in the multi-billion dollar project designed to redistribute I-81 through the city and mitigate effects of the viaduct — which historically displaced around 1,300 families living in Syracuse’s 15th Ward, a historically Black neighborhood, during its construction. The I-81 Viaduct Removal and Community Grid projects aim to correct a physical racial divide in the city caused by the overpass.

The DOT initiated multiple I-81-related constructed projects over the summer. The construction was previously delayed due to a 2022 “Renew 81 For All” lawsuit, among additional legal challenges from the group. Officials were cleared to proceed with the demolition following an over two-year delay, with a state appeals court dismissing the lawsuit in February.

North Clinton Street and Solar Street will serve as detours for southbound traffic, the DOT advisory states. North Clinton is part of the city’s improvement plans, which includes adding new street parking and pedestrian paths to the area.

Another detour will take traffic east through Court Street and West Division Street to I-81 South, according to the advisory. Eastbound Bear Street West is also affected by the Genant Ramp construction and will be closed between Solar Street and Genant Drive, syracuse.com reported Monday.

Drivers can expect additional construction near Destiny as the project continues. The focus of the work around the mall is to build a community grid. As part of the seventh contract, the state will redo the on-and-off ramps at Sunset Avenue and the State Street ramp to northbound I-81.

Additional construction around Destiny will include the replacement of four bridges over the highway, according to syracuse.com. The city will construct new pedestrian pathways at Bear, Court, Spencer and Butternut Streets — aiming to increase Northside community members’ access to the Inner Harbor.

Published on September 10, 2024 at 12:58 am

Contact Henry at: hdaley@syr.edu