New York builders awarded $251M contract on I-81 viaduct

A staff of New York-based builders secured the ultimate contract for part one on a serious infrastructure job in Syracuse, in response to a information launch from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s workplace.

The New York State DOT awarded a $251 million contract to Salt City Constructors for the following part of the $2.25 billion I-81 Viaduct project. The general initiative goals to reconnect downtown neighborhoods within the Syracuse space that have been initially severed by the I-81 viaduct’s building within the Fifties.

Scope for this contract consists of elimination of a number of spans of the present viaduct and initiates the transformation of I-81’s southern stretch into Enterprise Loop 81, in response to the information launch.

The work will decrease the freeway to avenue degree between Colvin and Burt streets; add curved roadways, narrower lanes and landscaped medians; and set up new visitors indicators, sidewalks, crosswalks and devoted bike lanes. A brand new roundabout at Van Buren Avenue and Enterprise Loop 81 may even purpose to sluggish automobiles as they method downtown Syracuse.

Salt Metropolis Constructors is a combined entity of three contractors, all based mostly in New York state: L&T Building of Richmondville, D.A. Collins Building in Wilton and Chilly Spring Building of Akron.

“New York state is doing extra to spend money on infrastructure initiatives which can be basically reworking communities throughout the state,” stated Marie Therese Dominguez, New York State DOT commissioner, within the launch. “At the moment’s announcement is additional proof that we’re transferring full velocity forward on this transformative venture.”

As a part of the conversion, crews may even construct a blue-painted metal railroad bridge to hold the New York Susquehanna and Western Railway over Enterprise Loop 81, and assemble a brand new northbound off-ramp to Colvin Avenue to enhance entry to downtown, Syracuse College and its south campus.

“With the fifth and last contract now awarded for Part 1 of the I-81’s transformation we have now by no means been nearer to realizing the dream of a reconnected Syracuse,” stated U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer within the launch. “This contract will take away parts of the viaduct and indicators that wheels are in movement to understand town’s imaginative and prescient for a neighborhood grid to higher join Syracuse to a brighter future.”

Salt City Constructors previously won the first and third contracts on the multi-phase viaduct alternative effort. Comprising eight separate contracts, exercise on the general I-81 venture started within the spring of 2023. With this newest award, all 5 phase-one contracts at the moment are underneath building, in response to the discharge.

Work is anticipated to start instantly and anticipated to be complete by mid-2027, in response to the discharge. As soon as two-thirds full, the viaduct will near visitors south of Harrison Avenue.

The I-81 Viaduct venture is the biggest ever by the New York State DOT. The venture is being funded by means of a mixture of state and federal assets underneath a $33 billion capital plan authorised in 2022.