New York officials awarded a $313.5 million contract to CNY Alliance for construction of a portion of the I-81 Viaduct project in Syracuse, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced July 19. The contract is the fourth of eight expected to be awarded as part of the $2.3. – billion dollar project.
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) plans to demolish the viaduct that carries Interstate 81 in downtown Syracuse, reroute the freeway to the existing route of Interstate 481 that runs through the city, and build the which officials have called a “community grid,” with at-grade local streets in place of the viaduct.
The scope of the newly awarded contract covers the construction of a new interchange at westbound I-690 and Crouse Avenue and the widening of the local street with an additional northbound lane in downtown Syracuse. It also covers another interchange at eastbound I-690 and Irving Avenue, the reconstruction of Irving Avenue, which runs parallel to Crouse, with another southbound lane to accommodate more traffic and that the extend beyond where it currently ends. In addition, the scope of the contract includes stormwater and wastewater infrastructure improvements, as well as a pair of bridge replacements and other improvements to local streets and sidewalks.
“This community-driven project is a reminder of the great things that reimagined transportation infrastructure can do: improve quality of life, enhance public safety and facilitate local economic development,” said Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez from NYSDOT. in a statement.
The successful bidder, CNY Alliance, is a joint venture of A. Servidone Inc. and B. Anthony Construction Corp. more Rifenburg Construction Corp. and Crane-Hogan Structural Systems Inc. The JV previously won the second contract for the $384.5 million project, which covered reconstruction of the south interchange of I-81 and I-481 plus other work along portions of the current I- 481.
NYSDOT anticipates that the work associated with this contract will be completed in 2027.
Work is already underway on the first two contracts. In May, officials selected Salt City Constructors LLC for the third $218.9 million contract for work along a portion of the current I-81 near North Clinton and Bear streets in downtown Syracuse. This contractor is a partnership of Lancaster Development, Tully Construction Co. LLC, DA Collins Construction Co. Inc. and Cold Spring Construction Co. Inc. The same team also won the project’s first $294.4 million contract last year.
The construction of the I-81 viaduct in the 1950s and 60s removed homes and divided neighborhoods with many black residents. State officials have promoted the project as a way to bring these neighborhoods together and address past injustices. The plan has faced opposition: A group called Renew 81 For All sued the state to change the plan’s design for the community network. Work beyond the first three contracts was temporarily blocked by the court until earlier this year, when an appeals court judge ruled in favor of the state, allowing the full project to move forward.
“Although it has taken more than 60 years to get to this point, we are righting the wrongs of the past, reconnecting neighborhoods and providing new opportunities for inclusion and equity in Central New York,” Hochul said in a statement after the recent award of the contract.
