Important Travel Alert For Syracuse: I-81 And Route 481 Closures Ahead

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

As portion of nan I-81 Viaduct Project, nan New York State Department of Transportation reminds motorists of nan aggregate ramp and road closures wrong Interstate 81 (I-81) and Route 481 North. The closings are portion of a ample task to return down nan elevated road done Syracuse, a fixture of nan metropolis for generations. Travelers should beryllium prepared for building impacts done nan summertime and fall.

It’s a ample building endeavor that’s going to operation up postulation successful nan area, but for bully reason: it’s each portion of nan scheme for a amended infrastructure and nan everlasting information of nan roads. Local postulation passing done Syracuse could perchance beryllium affected by impermanent closure and lane restrictions arsenic a consequence of nan project. Let’s get into nan specifications of nan closings and really to resoluteness them.

Ongoing Closures and Lane Reductions

It’s nan Monday Commute: Construction projects will create much headaches connected I-81 and Route 481 successful Syracuse pinch aggregate lanes reduced and ramps closed temporarily. The NYSDOT has announced nan pursuing closures and lane reductions:

On-Ramp Closure from Sunset Avenue

Sunset Avenue I-81 North on-ramp will beryllium closed 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. connected Tuesdays for building activities associated pinch activity connected nan Bear St. Bridge Abutment and nan removal of nan retaining wall. It is important to adjacent this conception down truthful nan East Glen Avenue span tin beryllium safely torn down, and different building connected Interstate 81 tin besides return place.

Detour routes are successful place:

Traffic will beryllium detoured northbound connected Sunset Avenue and past eastbound connected Bear Street to Lodi Street earlier reconnecting to I-81 North.

And that is 1 of nan awesome closures arsenic it affects truthful galore group who usage it each azygous time to get to activity successful nan greeting hours.

I-481 North Lane Reductions

The NYSDOT is besides informing nan nationalist of lane reductions connected I-481 North and Route 481 North. The reductions will beryllium successful effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Tuesday to Saturday, and are anticipated past for nan long of nan project. The affected sections are:

I-481 NB betwixt Exits 5W and 6

I-481 NB (N) and Rt 481 NB (N) betwixt Exits 8 and 1B

Motorists should expect nan worst delays to beryllium betwixt these hours, arsenic nan roadways are awesome entree for section arsenic good arsenic done postulation successful nan area.

I-81 Nighttime Closures owed to Bridge Demolition

Another awesome effect of nan ongoing task will beryllium nightly closures of I-81. These exist, betwixt 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., done Saturday, Aug. 9, for activity to region nan East Glen Avenue Bridge. During these hours, drivers will beryllium directed to detour, because I-81 North and I-81 South will beryllium closed betwixt nan pursuing exits:

I-81 North: Exit 16A (I-481 North) to Exit 17 (South Salina Street/Brighton Avenue)

I-81 South: From Exit 17 (South State St. (South Salina St., Brighton Ave.) to East Glen Ave. connected ramp

Since these closures are related to basal span demolition, motorists are encouraged to scheme their routes up of clip to trim congestion.

Construction Activities and Weather Delays

Like each ample building projects, immoderate activities are weather-dependent, and dates are taxable to alteration based connected upwind conditions. Inclement weather, aliases weather-permitting, whitethorn impact nan magnitude of immoderate closures aliases lane reductions.

Important Safety Reminders for Drivers

The NYSDOT wants each drivers to return it slow and beryllium other cautious arsenic they recreation done these building areas. The section reminds motorists that fines double successful activity zones, pinch 2 aliases much convictions for speeding successful a activity area triggering a driver’s licence suspension.

Construction areas airs an other hazard because of nan beingness of workers, equipment, and varying lanes. Motorists must workout caution, observe posted velocity limits, and directions of nan detour signage. It’s besides important to support an oculus retired for abrupt shifts successful postulation patterns during overnight closures.

Travel Tips for Coping With nan Closures

If you cognize you are walking done Syracuse, here’s immoderate proposal for really to debar nan large construction-related delays:

Avoid Rush Hours: This is easier said than done, but if you tin debar unreserved hours (7:00 AM – 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM), past you are acold little apt to beryllium delayed by roadworthy closures.

Take Alternate Route: Use alternate routes specified arsenic Route 81 aliases section streets, particularly during nighttime closures that will impact shutdowns connected wide stretches of I-81 for demolition.

Check Traffic Now: Be judge to cheque retired unrecorded postulation cams connected nan NYSDOT tract and section postulation apps to get nan astir up-to-date accusation connected closures, lane reductions, aliases immoderate last-minute changes earlier you leave.

Factor successful Additional Time: Due to galore roadworthy closures and detours successful effect, please facet successful further clip erstwhile traveling. That tin thief prevention you nan worry of making detours successful a panic, and guarantee you thrust safely and calmly.

Conclusion: Getting Ready for nan Shockwave successful Syracuse

As activity connected nan Interstate 81 Viaduct Project progresses, drivers successful nan Syracuse region tin expect regular roadworthy closings and lane reductions. This nether building is unluckily portion of nan basal increasing pains to make one nan region’s basal upgrades successful infrastructure, but that doesn’t alteration nan frustrating postulation jams and difficulties successful getting around. Drivers tin navigate astir these disruptions by paying attraction to posted move signs and closure signs, and by pursuing safe-driving indicators.