Interstate 81 in Syracuse

[Beltway]

take from that what you will...

OK, here is my take: About $800 per capita debt service in FY25.

New York State's FY2025 debt service is projected at about $6-7 billion, not the $16 billion figure sometimes cited. With a total budget near $237 billion, that works out to roughly 2.7% of spending. On a per‑capita basis, the burden is closer to $300-350 per resident, not $800. While $6-7 billion is still a large fixed cost, the percentage shows debt service is structurally significant but not destabilizing. Rating agencies generally flag ratios above 5% as concerning, so New York remains in a manageable zone. The real issue is whether the projects financed by this borrowing deliver long‑term value, since every dollar of debt service represents money locked into past commitments rather than new initiatives.

[ElishaGOtis]

How often is it that a new interstate business route is established (other than AL Mobile River Bridge)? I usually hear of them being removed tbh... Could this be precedent for future cases in NY?

[Rothman]

The real issue is whether the projects financed by this borrowing deliver long‑term value, since every dollar of debt service represents money locked into past commitments rather than new initiatives.

Bonds for capital projects have service life requirements by project...

Sort of a chicken-and-the-egg statement on debt service, though, since without bonds, fewer new initiatives would be pursued...

[Beltway]

The real issue is whether the projects financed by this borrowing deliver long‑term value, since every dollar of debt service represents money locked into past commitments rather than new initiatives.

Bonds for capital projects have service life requirements by project...
Sort of a chicken-and-the-egg statement on debt service, though, since without bonds, fewer new initiatives would be pursued...

As long as the total agency debt is within safe debt to income ratios, it should not be a problem to use bonds. Very few governmental bodies do not use any debt financing.

[Molandfreak]

(other than AL Mobile River Bridge)?

You're really going to post something like this without including any additional information? Since when is this a thing?

[kalvado]

The real issue is whether the projects financed by this borrowing deliver long‑term value, since every dollar of debt service represents money locked into past commitments rather than new initiatives.

Bonds for capital projects have service life requirements by project...

Sort of a chicken-and-the-egg statement on debt service, though, since without bonds, fewer new initiatives would be pursued...

One reason debt model was successful for a while is that population grew steadily, so there were more people paying off the debt than who took it, and projects were contributing to the growth. Same is true about nice pensions, btw.
 If we're talking stagnant population and mostly preservation projects, then debt becomes net negative. 

[Beltway]

One reason debt model was successful for a while is that population grew steadily, so there were more people paying off the debt than who took it, and projects were contributing to the growth. Same is true about nice pensions, btw.
If we're talking stagnant population and mostly preservation projects, then debt becomes net negative. 

New York State's bonds are rated AA+ by Fitch and S&P, and Aa1 by Moody's, all with a stable outlook. That's one notch below the top AAA/Aaa rating, but still considered very strong credit quality. The ratings reflect New York's large, diverse economy and reliable revenue base, while also noting high debt levels and spending pressures. In practical terms, it means investors see New York bonds as safe, with low risk of default. So despite debt service obligations, the state remains in the upper tier of creditworthiness.

[kalvado]

One reason debt model was successful for a while is that population grew steadily, so there were more people paying off the debt than who took it, and projects were contributing to the growth. Same is true about nice pensions, btw.
If we're talking stagnant population and mostly preservation projects, then debt becomes net negative. 

New York State's bonds are rated AA+ by Fitch and S&P, and Aa1 by Moody's, all with a stable outlook. That's one notch below the top AAA/Aaa rating, but still considered very strong credit quality. The ratings reflect New York's large, diverse economy and reliable revenue base, while also noting high debt levels and spending pressures. In practical terms, it means investors see New York bonds as safe, with low risk of default. So despite debt service obligations, the state remains in the upper tier of creditworthiness.

Mrs. Governor?!...

[vdeane]

How often is it that a new interstate business route is established (other than AL Mobile River Bridge)? I usually hear of them being removed tbh... Could this be precedent for future cases in NY?

Well, the state legislature did say they want the state to go green...

[Beltway]

One reason debt model was successful for a while is that population grew steadily, so there were more people paying off the debt than who took it, and projects were contributing to the growth. Same is true about nice pensions, btw.
If we're talking stagnant population and mostly preservation projects, then debt becomes net negative. 

New York State's bonds are rated AA+ by Fitch and S&P, and Aa1 by Moody's, all with a stable outlook. That's one notch below the top AAA/Aaa rating, but still considered very strong credit quality. The ratings reflect New York's large, diverse economy and reliable revenue base, while also noting high debt levels and spending pressures. In practical terms, it means investors see New York bonds as safe, with low risk of default. So despite debt service obligations, the state remains in the upper tier of creditworthiness.

Mrs. Governor?!...

Research -- Google is your friend.

[ElishaGOtis]

(other than AL Mobile River Bridge)?

You're really going to post something like this without including any additional information? Since when is this a thing?

BL-10 proposed along current I-10 route through tunnel if I-10 gets realigned onto the bridge. https://mobileriverbridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Preliminary-Layouts.pdf

https://mobileriverbridge.com/

I'd pay to see this project done in my lifetime, though... 

[froggie]

BL-10 proposed along current I-10 route through tunnel if I-10 gets realigned onto the bridge. https://mobileriverbridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Preliminary-Layouts.pdf

https://mobileriverbridge.com/

I'd pay to see this project done in my lifetime, though... 

Off-topic for this thread, but I distinctly recall going to a project meeting for the Mobile River Bridge project.

In 2001.

[vdeane]

Exits 81 and 90 have drawn the attention of the local media.  The picture shows off some of the new signage and the third lane northbound between exits 89B and 90.

https://www.syracuse.com/news/2025/12/highway-to-one-hell-of-a-coincidence-see-new-i-81-exit-numbers-in-syracuse.html

I did find the mention of exit 81 being at MP 81.4 interesting.  The mile markers in contract 2 haven't been installed yet.  The old mile markers said MP 82.0.  I wonder if they got it from my site.

[vdeane]

Exit 4A on future BL 81 opened with no fanfare yesterday.  With that, exit 21 is permanently closed.

The I-81 mile markers are certainly an odd situation.  The new ones end around MP 97, so the signed mileage drops down to 95 from there before jumping from 100 to 103 five miles later.  Hopefully they'll get the rest of Onondaga County straightened out soon.  No new mile markers or gore signs on future BL 81.  They must be saving that for last.  Near the southern interchange, the mile markers south of the interchange get closer to it in the SB direction, so unless they fudge where mile markers are posted around the interchange or north of it (I got confirmation that mile markers south of the work zone won't be moved/replaced), 81.4 is going to appear twice.  Wonderful.

[Plutonic Panda]

PR from NYSDOT about the first milestone in this project:

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-latest-milestone-transformative-interstate-81-viaduct-project

[vdeane]

I got confirmation for the new route of NY 298 once contract 3 is done (which is also depicted in the plans): continue on Bear Street, short overlap with US 11, and then continuing up the existing route.

[dzheng35]

Does anyone have an idea of when exactly the southern interchange of I-481 and I-81 will finally be open. I saw the project website and it said early next year, but not exact date mentioned. Also, just when exactly will the rerouting of I-81 officially take place.

[roadman65]

Shouldn't they wait until I-81 moves onto I-481 before renumbering the future BL I-81 exits?  I would think its confusion to see the exit numbers drop to single digits after passing Exit 81.

I saw someone post on Social Media a drive by Syracuse Airport in the snow, and saw the Exit 9 tabs for one of the exits near the airport.  So they are up obviously unless Rothman claims that video of I-81 in the snow is AI, but I don't think so.

[cu2010]

They started renumbering exits along future BL I-81 over the summer, primarily as signage has been replaced; yet signs with the old numbers also remain.

R7 has still not yet renumbered exits on their stretch of I-81 in Jefferson County.

[dzheng35]

Since when will R7 in Jefferson County finally renumber their I-81 exit numbers? It makes it really confusing and odd for drivers to see exit numbers drop from the 100s back down to 38. 

[vdeane]

Since when will R7 in Jefferson County finally renumber their I-81 exit numbers? It makes it really confusing and odd for drivers to see exit numbers drop from the 100s back down to 38. 

This was the response to an email I sent in June:

Work orders have been prepared for this project and we are hopeful that the Contractor will be able to start working on them later this summer.  Depending on the Contractor's availability and schedule, it's possible that some work may need to be completed in the 2026 construction season, if they aren't able to finish it all this year.

Perhaps it's time for me to follow up on this.

[vdeane]

I heard back from them today.  The final work orders were sent to the contractor in the fall, but the contractor elected to focus on other assignments downstate and pushed off the I-81 work until spring.

[The Ghostbuster]

Well, once spring comes, they'd better get a move on it! No time like the present to get the exit renumbering done.

[cu2010]

Hopefully they're including a massive sign rehab project on top of tne renimbering...because a lot of the signs ob I-81 in Jefferson County are in need of replacement.

[vdeane]

Hopefully they're including a massive sign rehab project on top of tne renimbering...because a lot of the signs ob I-81 in Jefferson County are in need of replacement.

Given that it's a work order and not a D contract, I'd consider it unlikely.  And if it was a D contract, we wouldn't be asking questions about when work would be done or what the new numbers would be... all of that would just be on the website.

That said, it's amazing how bad the signs have gotten on I-81 in Jefferson County.  Some even look post-apocalyptic.  I wonder if some of their reluctance to change the numbers is an acknowledgement that a full sign rehab (including service signs) is needed but not having the ability to progress such a project at this time.

(personal opinion)