Interstate 81 in Syracuse

[Rothman]

I discovered an interesting situation with the I-81 project when I was checking a few things out yesterday.  On future BL 81, the SB ramp to Glen St is open - but not signed.  Meanwhile, a sign for the N Clinton St exit is up... even though it doesn't look like it will be opening in the near term.  In other interesting news, the signs for SB exit 96 all have temporary patches for "NY 481 south".

Yep...just drove past it again today.  Very frustrating.  I should find out more about the situation this week on the lack of signage.

[vdeane]

I took a look, and the plans for contract 6 are up!  Signage and the staging for each "phase" of work begin on part 3 of 4 of the RFP plans (part 6 of the final RFP).  Looks like West Street will be exit 15A in both directions, even though there won't be an exit 15B eastbound.  Also of interest is that I-690 EB will be closed through most of this work.

I discovered an interesting situation with the I-81 project when I was checking a few things out yesterday.  On future BL 81, the SB ramp to Glen St is open - but not signed.  Meanwhile, a sign for the N Clinton St exit is up... even though it doesn't look like it will be opening in the near term.  In other interesting news, the signs for SB exit 96 all have temporary patches for "NY 481 south".

Yep...just drove past it again today.  Very frustrating.  I should find out more about the situation this week on the lack of signage.

I think I saw a sign near the ground there, so hopefully soon.  Still, it would have been nice if it was there when I was out getting pictures!

[Rothman]

I think someone mentioned the uncovered BL-81 shield?  Anyway, saw it this past weekend on a sign assembly at the northern interchange between I-81 and I-481 on I-481 NB after taking the I-81 NB to I-/NY 481 NB ramp.

I think I've also heard the shield will be covered again soon...

(personal opinion emphasized)

[The Ghostbuster]

Given the mess that both the under-reconstruction roadway and a mixture of signage with old exit numbers and new ones, it's a wonder anyone can make their way through the Syracuse area. Even using Google Maps Street View through Syracuse is a chore. The reconstruction and exit renumbering project will be worth it, and once it is finished, there shouldn't be any more confusion, but until then, it will be a colossal mess.

[vdeane]

I think someone mentioned the uncovered BL-81 shield?  Anyway, saw it this past weekend on a sign assembly at the northern interchange between I-81 and I-481 on I-481 NB after taking the I-81 NB to I-/NY 481 NB ramp.

I think I've also heard the shield will be covered again soon...

(personal opinion emphasized)

Is there a point to having it covered, given that the exit in question is currently closed?  Will the ramp even be open before the designation swap happens?  I noticed that exit 1A of BL 81 isn't bothering with this.

[Rothman]

I think someone mentioned the uncovered BL-81 shield?  Anyway, saw it this past weekend on a sign assembly at the northern interchange between I-81 and I-481 on I-481 NB after taking the I-81 NB to I-/NY 481 NB ramp.

I think I've also heard the shield will be covered again soon...

(personal opinion emphasized)

Is there a point to having it covered, given that the exit in question is currently closed?  Will the ramp even be open before the designation swap happens?  I noticed that exit 1A of BL 81 isn't bothering with this.

Just compliance with FHWA's wishes, I believe.

It is my understanding that both the northern and southern interchanges are scheduled to be fully operational by the end of the year...with more outstanding finish-up work at the southern interchange than the northern.  CSX bridge won't be done until next fall.

That all said, there's a lot of work to be done still at the southern interchange in my opinion...and it's almost November...

(personal opinion emphasized)

[vdeane]

I just got all my photos from my Columbus Day weekend trip up on my website.  Some interesting observations:
-"Begin speed limit 55" - not the usual, but to be fair, the sign used to say 65 (and will presumably go away when construction finishes here), and the work zone speed limit through the interchange is 45 (!).
-I think it's interesting that Watertown isn't used as a control city around I-690, especially given that it's used at the southern interchange.  Given that it's all new sign structures, shifted to the Thruway shield, and updated the exit numbers, I don't understand why it was suddenly "replace in kind" with respect to not having a control city. The same thing happens on I-690.
-Speaking of I-690, there's some signage for exit 19, but it's far from comprehensive.
-This mileage sign is essentially the same as the one it replaced except Oswego was replaced with Cicero.
-The southbound signage at the northern interchange is a big of a mess.  NY 481 south?  I-81 south on the left until you get to the split?  The patch job until the designation swap happens needs work.  I'm also not sure why it says "1/2 mile" given that the split will literally be at the very next gantry.
-"Work zone speed limit 65"
-Exit 3 has been put into its new configuration, but interesting that they just covered the W in 3W rather than putting in the new gore, considering the rest of the signage all says exit 86.
-Future BL 81 uses new exit numbers all the way down to North Clinton Street, which is signed (well, it is here) despite not being open, while SB exit 1B (Glen Avenue) was open but not signed (not sure if that's changed or not).
-There's an unpatched sign for I-81 at the southern interchange.  Makes it interesting that the closed ramps at the northern interchange are patched, although they might open before the southern interchange does.