Redesigned Exit 3 ramp to open Monday as part of I-81 demolition
The redesigned I-481 off-ramp to Exit 3 will open on Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced. Maxine Brackbill | Daily Orange File Photo
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The redesigned Interstate 481 off-ramp to Exit 3 will open on Monday afternoon, marking the latest milestone for the Interstate 81 transformation, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Sunday.
The new ramp in Dewitt will connect to Fayetteville and Manlius. It includes new turning lanes and other improvements, according to a release.
The project aims to reduce congestion and improve safety for central New York drivers.
“The redesigned Exit 3 is the latest improvement of many that are in store for Central New York residents and visitors as we work to complete this historic project and transform the region’s transportation network for the better,” Hochul said in the release.
Exit 3 consolidates two existing exits, adding designated turn lanes for drivers entering State Route 5 and 92 in both directions. The current southbound ramp to Exit 3E toward Fayetteville and Manlius is closed and will be replaced with landscaping, the release states.
The northbound on-ramp from State Routes 5 and 92 westbound will also extend to Kinne Road, giving drivers more space to merge onto I-481 northbound.
The Exit 3 redesign is part of the larger I-81 Viaduct Project, announced in 2022. The $34.3 billion initiative will replace the aging I-81 viaduct through downtown Syracuse. Under the plan, I-481 will become the mainline I-81 once the elevated highway is demolished.
The release also outlined plans to complete improvements at Lyndon Corners and add an eastbound lane along State Routes 5 and 92 towards Manlius in the coming weeks.
These initiatives are part of Hochul’s goal to modernize New York state’s infrastructure and “invest in projects that reconnect communities” by promoting multi-modal transportation across the state, the release said.
In February, Hochul announced the I-81 Connect mobile app, which gives real-time project updates and travel alerts to keep central New York residents aware of road closures or detours.
The I-81 Viaduct Project is the largest infrastructure undertaking in the history of the New York State Department of Transportation and is expected to be completed by 2028, syracuse.com reported.
“The I-81 Viaduct Project is providing great enhancements for Central New York, and we are just getting started,” Dominguez said. “ The newly redesigned Exit 3 interchange will mean easier commutes and fewer hassles for tens of thousands of motorists who travel this corridor each day, strengthening the bonds that tie this community together and improving quality of life.”
