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t h e i n de p e n de n t s t u de n t n e w s pa p e r of s y r a c u s e , n e w yor k | city
Grid project to take 5 years
dailyorange.com
Set in motion Breaking down I-81’s environmental impact statement and how it affects SU, city
city
Rebuilt viaduct, tunnel rejected
By Emma Folts
By Natalie Rubio-Licht
The “community grid” replacement option for the aging Interstate 81 viaduct would take about five years to complete, according to a report released Monday by the New York State Department of Transportation. NYSDOT concluded in its Draft Environmental Impact Statement report that the community grid method was best suited for replacing the viaduct, which reached the end of its usable life in 2017. The grid would level the 1.4-mile viaduct and redirect traffic along city streets. Construction of the community grid would be broken into two stages. The first stage would focus on the demolition of the viaduct, while the second stage is divided between reconstructing Interstate 690 and the interchange between I-690 and I-81. Several streets in the University Hill neighborhood, such as Crouse and Irving avenues, would be reconstructed during the five-year project.
The New York State Department of Transportation chose the community grid option as its initial recommendation for replacing the aging Interstate 81 viaduct on Monday, rejecting options to rebuild the viaduct or construct a tunnel. Rebuilding the current viaduct along Interstate 81 was rejected due to the amount of people that it would displace and “unreasonable socioeconomic impacts,” according to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement released on Monday. NYSDOT also considered the “orange tunnel” option, which would funnel traffic under the city from University Hill to the I-80/I-690 interchange. Due to the high cost and duration of the tunnel, the NYSDOT dismissed the concept from further study, calling it “unreasonable.” A tunnel would total $4.9 billion in construction costs and annual maintenance costs of $16.5 million. Construction of the tunnel would take 11 years and require 39 total building acquisitions. The community grid option involves demolishing the current I-81 viaduct between University Hill and the I-81/I-690 interchange. This option would disperse traffic along city streets and involve reconstruction of downtown city streets. Several mayors and town supervisors throughout Onondaga County, particularly in suburban towns and villages, support maintaining the viaduct’s current route. The Onondaga County Legislature’s Republican caucus said they support maintaining the current route to avoid “significant adverse effects” caused by the community grid. The community grid would take five years to build and cost $1.9 billion, according to the state’s report. Demolishing and reconstructing the viaduct to current standards would cost $2.2 billion and take six years to complete. Reconstruction of the viaduct would displace about 527 residents and 753 employees. At a Tuesday press conference, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon expressed his support for a hybrid option that would combine a tunnel with a community grid. The state’s initial recommendation of the community grid is far from the final word on I-81’s future. There will be a 45-day public comment period, a final impact statement and a decision by the state and federal government.
asst. copy editor
asst. copy editor
I-81
BL 81
Onondaga Lake
I-90
I-690
I-81 BL 81
877,982
Number of labor hours required for community grid construction
Part of I-81 that passes through Syracuse will be redesignated as Business Loop 81. The current I-481 route would become the new I-81, carrying north and south traffic through the region.
source: new york state department of transportation
The first stage of the project would last about two years. NYSDOT’s community grid plan would redirect I-81 traffic to Interstate 481, which would be redesignated as the new I-81. The current I-81 route would become Business Loop 81. Before the I-81 viaduct is demolished, Interstate 481 and I-690 would need improvements to handle increased traffic. Maintaining sufficient traffic operations and tackling congestion during construction is also listed as a goal in the report. Reconstruction of city streets would also occur during the first stage. The 1.4 mile section of I-81 between University Hill and the I-690 interchange to the north will be demolished. A railway bridge would be constructed over the new Business Loop 81 near Renwick Avenue. An I-690 interchange between Crouse and Irving avenues,
graphics by talia trackim digital design director
By Casey Darnell asst. news editor
S
everal streets near Syracuse University would be reconstructed under the proposed community grid plan to replace the Interstate 81 viaduct, creating five new access points to University Hill. The New York State Department of Transportation announced on Monday that its preferred replacement option is the community grid, which would involve demolishing the existing 1.4-mile viaduct on I-81 and redirecting traffic through city streets. The decision was detailed in the long-awaited Draft Environmental Impact Statement — more than 1,000 pages detailing the state’s study of the environmental consequences of 19 replacement options. SU, SUNY Upstate Medical University and SUNY-ESF all sit along the existing viaduct, meaning they would be affected by the changes to I-81. SU Chancellor Kent Syverud endorsed the community grid in a campus-wide email on April 19. The presidents of Upstate and SUNY-ESF soon followed with endorsements on Monday, hours before the impact statement was released. “It is my view that the Community Grid option most strongly aligns with see grid page 4
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Community residents and lawmakers marched across downtown Syracuse for Onondaga County’s first “Stand Against Racism” walk Tuesday. Page 3
nlrubio@syr.edu
Who is
SYRACUSE 2019 SEE PAGE 6
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Two-time Syracuse men’s lacrosse champion John Galloway is in the middle of rebuilding Jacksonville’s lacrosse program as the Dolphins’ head coach. Page 12