Award: Viaduct removal and infrastructure upgrade

Value: $251 million

Location: Syracuse, New York

Client: New York State DOT

A team of New York-based builders secured the final contract for phase one on a major infrastructure job in Syracuse, according to a news release from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.

The New York State DOT awarded a $251 million contract to Salt City Constructors for the next phase of the $2.25 billion I-81 Viaduct project. The overall initiative aims to reconnect downtown neighborhoods in the Syracuse area that were originally severed by the I-81 viaduct’s construction in the 1950s.

Scope for this contract includes removal of several spans of the existing viaduct and initiates the transformation of I-81’s southern stretch into Business Loop 81, according to the news release.

The work will lower the highway to street level between Colvin and Burt streets; add curved roadways, narrower lanes and landscaped medians; and install new traffic signals, sidewalks, crosswalks and dedicated bike lanes. A new roundabout at Van Buren Street and Business Loop 81 will also aim to slow vehicles as they approach downtown Syracuse.

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

“New York state is doing more to invest in infrastructure projects that are fundamentally transforming communities across the state,” said Marie Therese Dominguez, New York State DOT commissioner, in the release. “Today’s announcement is further proof that we are moving full speed ahead on this transformative project.”

As part of the conversion, crews will also build a blue-painted steel railroad bridge to carry the New York Susquehanna and Western Railway over Business Loop 81, and construct a new northbound off-ramp to Colvin Street to improve access to downtown, Syracuse University and its south campus.

“With the fifth and final contract now awarded for Phase 1 of the I-81’s transformation we have never been closer to realizing the dream of a reconnected Syracuse,” said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer in the release. “This contract will remove portions of the viaduct and signals that wheels are in motion to realize the city’s vision for a community grid to better connect Syracuse to a brighter future.”

Salt City Constructors previously won the first and third contracts on the multi-phase viaduct replacement effort. Comprising eight separate contracts, activity on the overall I-81 project began in the spring of 2023. With this latest award, all five phase-one contracts are now under construction, according to the release.

Work is expected to begin immediately and anticipated to be complete by mid-2027, according to the release. Once two-thirds complete, the viaduct will close to traffic south of Harrison Street.

The I-81 Viaduct project is the largest ever by the New York State DOT. The project is being funded through a mix of state and federal resources under a $33 billion capital plan approved in 2022.