New Bookstore at SU...

[BlueCurtain]

Additionally a North I-81 to I-90 West belt should be laid out and built within 20 years through the SW side of Syracuse in the suburbs.

Hope someday the I-481 loop is completed around the western suburbs of Syracuse.

One of the proposals addresses the western bypass, but NIMBY trolls would kill that idea before it even gained momentum. It should have been built when it was first proposed 30 years ago - when there was less suburban sprawl in neighborhoods that would link to 695. The State DOT sold the land that was earmarked for that strip.

It is painful to get from there to anywhere else in the county unless you happen to be next to the Route 5 bypass in Fairmount or near Camillus.

What's worse is that Rt. 173 Seneca Turnpike - which serves as the main artery in the SW - doesn't even have a connection to 81/481. You have to roll up your windows and lock your doors as you head into the valley and then twist up to Brighton Ave just to get on a highway. Anyone that lives in Onondaga Hill is conditioned to it, but they probably don't realize (or forgot) how much simpler access should be.

 

[shandeezy7]

Well if the State/City does the right thing...I-81 going through downtown should be torn down within 5 years. The highway needs to go underground for a good stretch. It would help connect downtown with the University. It is so dangerous walking from the Hill under the I-81 bridges to downtown. Make I-81 more for local traffic and keep the trucks bypassing the area drive around I-481. Autos and local trucks could use the parkway/underground section. Additionally a North I-81 to I-90 West belt should be laid out and built within 20 years through the SW side of Syracuse in the suburbs.

This convo is getting off course, but oh well. The one argument I don't really get about taking the elevated portion of 81 down is how it is going to make it any easier to cross that section and get downtown? There is still an incredibly busy 6 lane street right there, and aside from building pedestrian bridges to go over it, there is no easy way to get across.

 

[BlueCurtain]

I think they are leaning towards making the section of I-81 that goes through the city a sunken highway, which studies indicate have less of an impact on neighborhoods.

The "81 divides the city" is only in the conversation because vocal minority groups and liberals want to blame a piece of concrete for forcing the South Side into drug addiction and poverty.

How come ye citizens of Lakeland and Geddes haven't risen up to tear down their elevated portions of 690? What about unfortunate Mattydale and Salina residents being shackled by the 81/Rt 11 junction?

 

[sutomcat]

This convo is getting off course, but oh well. The one argument I don't really get about taking the elevated portion of 81 down is how it is going to make it any easier to cross that section and get downtown? There is still an incredibly busy 6 lane street right there, and aside from building pedestrian bridges to go over it, there is no easy way to get across.

I don't think it is going to make a big difference. A big highway, unless it is built literally put under ground as a tunnel, is going to disrupt a neighborhood in a major way. I think having it sunken below street level makes it somewhat less of a visual blight, reduces the noise somewhat and (most importantly for me) reduces maintenance costs/downtime and increases safety. Elevated highways are much more suspectible to freezing/black ice, and with the weather in CNY, much more suspectible to erosion, potholes, serious salt/water damage in a very short amount of time.

IMHO, I-81 through downtown Syracuse should have been built as a sunken highway from day one. I wonder if one of the reasons it was not was because of what happened with the railroads in Syracuse years past? Syracuse was a national laughingstock because it was one of the last major cities that had major rail lines going through it still running at the street level. This disrupted trafffic in the city for many years. I don't think it was addressed until the 1930s. The elevated tracks ran East-West and were only used for a couple of decades before they were replaced and used as the right of way for Interstate 690 through Syracuse.





Maybe a bad decision made long ago will finally be addressed. That rarely happens, but I suppose it is possible.

 

[shandeezy7]

I don't think it is going to make a big difference. A big highway, unless it is built literally put under ground as a tunnel, is going to disrupt a neighborhood in a major way. I think having it sunken below street level makes it somewhat less of a visual blight, reduces the noise somewhat and (most importantly for me) reduces maintenance costs/downtime and increases safety. Elevated highways are much more suspectible to freezing/black ice, and with the weather in CNY, much more suspectible to erosion, potholes, serious salt/water damage in a very short amount of time.

IMHO, I-81 through downtown Syracuse should have been built as a sunken highway from day one. Maybe they will finally address a bad decision made long ago. That rarely happens, but I suppose it is possible.

Just like 690 probably should have been extended into the eastern suburbs like the original plans called for. A sunken highway wouldn't be a bad idea, but when we get our major snowstorms, where does all the snow go? It seems to me that it would just be piling up on the shoulders and would be a major hazard.

 

[BlueCurtain]

Just like 690 probably should have been extended into the eastern suburbs like the original plans called for. A sunken highway wouldn't be a bad idea, but when we get our major snowstorms, where does all the snow go? It seems to me that it would just be piling up on the shoulders and would be a major hazard.

Can't be any worse than SUVs launching from snowbanks and plummeting 50 feet. Not that such a thing could happen.

 

[xc84]

Sure...a sunken highway in what was originally swampland. I guess maybe Congel will get his Erie Canal near the mall after all.

It'll go the 481 route. Cost will dictate and that will be the cheapest. There will still be an artery running into the city...just not a major highway.

 

[TexanMark]

Just like 690 probably should have been extended into the eastern suburbs like the original plans called for. A sunken highway wouldn't be a bad idea, but when we get our major snowstorms, where does all the snow go? It seems to me that it would just be piling up on the shoulders and would be a major hazard.

My cousin is a major player in this as he is one of the biggest landscape architects in the area...his recommendation is part of I-81 actually goes underground versus being sunken. It would allow for some greenspace for people and also for the recovering lil patients at the Children's Hospital.

 

[sutomcat]

My cousin is a major player in this as he is one of the biggest landscape architects in the area...his recommendation is part of I-81 actually goes underground versus being sunken. It would allow for some greenspace for people and also for the recovering lil patients at the Children's Hospital.

If that happens, the syracusefan.com Fine Lot Crew calls dibs on the new green space area for SU football tailgating!

 

[OttoMets]

The "81 divides the city" is only in the conversation because vocal minority groups and liberals want to blame a piece of concrete for forcing the South Side into drug addiction and poverty.

That, or it grossly depresses real estate values in the two most valuable neighborhoods in the entire region.

Or that other thing.

 

[retro44]

The "81 divides the city" is only in the conversation because vocal minority groups and liberals want to blame a piece of concrete for forcing the South Side into drug addiction and poverty.

How come ye citizens of Lakeland and Geddes haven't risen up to tear down their elevated portions of 690? What about unfortunate Mattydale and Salina residents being shackled by the 81/Rt 11 junction?

what side of 81 are you willing to live by? the biggest problem i see is that the state uses to much bath salts on the elevated sections of the bridge and therefore that is why we have a decaying bridge to nowhere.

besides there are way to many utilities that are buried under ground along the 81 corridor.I've worked in those locations.what the hell,this town could use a few thousand of prevailing wage jobs=season tickets

 

[BlueCurtain]

My cousin is a major player in this as he is one of the biggest landscape architects in the area...his recommendation is part of I-81 actually goes underground versus being sunken. It would allow for some greenspace for people and also for the recovering lil patients at the Children's Hospital.

Well of course he wants a tunnel. Imagine acres upon acres of green space that - guess what - needs to be landscaped. Landscape architects will help landscape the solution, but they won't decide the solution.

 

[TexanMark]

Well of course he wants a tunnel. Imagine acres upon acres of green space that - guess what - needs to be landscaped. Landscape architects will help landscape the solution, but they won't decide the solution.

He isn't doing this for the money (he is in his mid 70's), he wants to leave Syracuse in better shape after he is gone. Too many projects in Syracuse are done the cheapest, easist way. BTW, is there a problem with having landscaped areas instead of ugly, rusting steel decks?

 

[BlueCurtain]

He isn't doing this for the money (he is in his mid 70's), he wants to leave Syracuse in better shape after he is gone. Too many projects in Syracuse are done the cheapest, easist way. BTW, is there a problem with having landscaped areas instead of ugly, rusting steel decks?

It's a moot point -- the state and feds will never hand over $2 billion to finance that sort of dig. This ain't Boston.

Rebuild the elevated section taller and wider, and station guards to man the wall. Why do we want to see what's on the other side? You think taking it down is going to spur slumlords to refurbish condemned properties and welfare trolls to actually look for jobs?

 

[TexanMark]

It's a moot point -- the state and feds will never hand over $2 billion to finance that sort of dig. This ain't Boston.

Rebuild the elevated section taller and wider, and station guards to man the wall. Why do we want to see what's on the other side? You think taking it down is going to spur slumlords to refurbish condemned properties and welfare trolls to actually look for jobs?

smh