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Interstate-81 Update Interstate-81 Update

By Kienan Dixon

Ariel view of the I-81 Viaduct
© 2019 Peyton Smith

A decision is expected to be made in the next year on how to fix the Interstate-81 issue.

Several proposals were presented to the New York State Department of Transportation, and in April 2019, they recommended the community grid proposal.

Project Director Mark Frechette says the community grid project will allow for high speed transportation both in and out of Syracuse’s downtown area, while reducing speed limits on surface streets for commuters.

Anchor: The Interstate-81 problem is nearing a solution. NCC’s Kienan Dixon tells us why Syracuse residents can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Kienan Dixon: After hundreds of meetings, Syracuse is close to a big break in the I-81 dilemma. The New York Department of Transportation has recommended the community grid project through downtown. Director Mark Frechette says the project is a few steps away fringe getting the green light.

Project Director Mark Frechette: Ultimately, we’re thinking that we’ll get to the record of decision sometime in 2020.

Dixon: Frechette says he still has to address concerns of local residents before the project can move forward.

Frechette: We still have four noise meetings coming up also. We have other types of meetings. I have a lot of requests from stakeholders to get together.

Dixon: The DOT estimates the community grid project will take two years to complete and will cost over two-billion dollars. Kienan Dixon, NCC News.

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