Area residents learn more about options at public meeting

By Hayleigh Gowans

Staff Writer

Residents in the town of DeWitt had the opportunity to learn more about the Interstate-81 project that is in the works to replace the current structure through Syracuse at a Nov. 15 open meeting hosted by the New York State Department of Transportation at Jamesville-DeWitt High School.

Starting about eight years ago, the restructuring of I-81 through the city of Syracuse has been considered due to environmental, social, traffic and structural problems the city of Syracuse has seen by having the elevated highway run through the city.

While many options have been considered, there are two alternatives still on the table other — rebuilding a taller viaduct, and the community grid option. The taller viaduct construction would cost an estimated $1.7 billion and it would be necessary to acquire about 30 properties, some historical buildings and businesses. The community grid option is estimated to cost $1.3 billion, and it would include the demolition and decommission I-81 as a highway, and re-routing traffic around Syracuse on Interstate-481, which starts in the south of Syracuse and runs through a large section of the town of DeWitt, and crosses I-81 in North Syracuse and continues northwest toward Oswego. This option would include the widening of I-481 to help with the increased traffic flow.

On Aug. 22, the DeWitt Town Board passed a resolution that outlined the position the board takes that the community grid option of re-routing traffic on I-481 would transfer the problem Syracuse is having with I-81 to DeWitt, and would bring environmental, social and infrastructural problems to the residents of the eastern suburbs. Some of the concerns of re-designating I-481 as I-81 outlined in the resolution include; traffic flow problems, concerns with wear and tear of the current infrastructure, increased pollution to the eastern suburbs, having no alternative in the event of needed repairs or national disasters, and the fact the current I-81 serves as a transfer point for the services of Syracuse hospitals, businesses and commerce and decommissioning it would hurt these entities.

“I just think there’s better ways to go about this,” said DeWitt Supervisor Ed Michalenko, who was at the meeting passing out the town board resolution to residents. “I encourage the community to become informed and let the state know what their thoughts are. Without hearing the feedback, the state may make a decision that impacts us for a long time to come.”

On Nov. 17, Deputy Town Supervisor Kerry Mannion sent a press release signed by himself and Michalenko that states, “The majority of CNY citizens need their voices to be heard before the NYSDOT issues a decision to sever the main artery supporting our already struggling regional economy. We have heard loudly over the years from the vocal minority that believes tearing down I-81 and creating a boulevard in its place will somehow enhance the economic synergy and lifestyles of businesses/residents of Central New York. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is time for the majority to be heard on this long planned major construction project that will affect our lives every minute for the next 100 years.”

The release encourages residents to call their state and federal representatives to give their opinion of the upcoming project.

The I-81 project is currently in the draft environmental impact statement phase, which means they are studying the environmental, social and economic impacts of the project and considering community feedback. Gene Cilento, public information officer for the DOT, said the DOT plans to give a final environmental impact report with recommendations in early 2017, and will hold another period of community comment before a final decision is made.

Although representatives from DeWitt have a strong stance against the community grid option, Cilento said from speaking to citizens, he believes there to be about a 50/50 split between the two options.

“A lot of it depends geographically where they are,” said Cilento. “We went the communities to give us feedback so we can consider it along with environmental impacts and engineer recommendations for the final decision.”

Another community meeting on the project is being held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, 6002 Route 31, Cicero.

To learn more about the I-81 alternatives, go to dot.ny.gov/i81opportunities. To see the DeWitt Town Board resolution in the entirety, click here.