New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez announced today the completion of a $14.5 million pavement rehabilitation project on Route 481 in Central New York from the I-81 interchange in the Town of Cicero to County Route 57 in the City of Fulton, in Onondaga and Oswego Counties. Route 481 is a vital roadway connecting the City of Syracuse and the New York State Thruway to the cities of Fulton and Oswego, and is also the primary connector to the Port of Oswego. This highly trafficked route is essential to both commuters and commercial vehicles in Onondaga and Oswego Counties.
“Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State continues to make smart infrastructure investments that support economic growth and enable communities across Central New York to prosper,” Commissioner Dominguez said. “With the completion of this project, motorists can expect a safer, smoother ride on this stretch of I-481, which is an important corridor that is utilized by thousands of commuters and commercial vehicles every day.”
State Senator John W. Mannion said, “I’m thrilled to announce the successful completion of the pavement rehabilitation project on State Route 481. This project will greatly improve the safety and reliability of this important thoroughfare for the residents of Onondaga and Oswego Counties. I’m committed to investing in our infrastructure and ensuring the smooth operation of our roads and transportation systems. This project is a testament to the hard work of the governor and the dedication of all those involved, and I am grateful for these efforts.”
The project encompassed both the north and southbound lanes of State Route 481, covering almost 13 miles of highway for a total of over 50 lane miles. The entire stretch of roadway was milled and paved, with pavement joints reconstructed. In addition, existing rumble strips, delineators, and mile markers were replaced on the entire length of the project.
According to Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, “A core responsibility of government is to provide safe, reliable infrastructure and to continue to make responsible investments and upgrades in its infrastructure. This has been a core tenant of my administration, but it also requires partnerships and a shared commitment from all levels of government. Thank you to New York State for sharing in that commitment and their continued investment in the infrastructure of Central New York.”
New median railing was added from the I-81 interchange extending one mile north. All ramps within the project limits were paved and shoulder backup material placed on the entire length of the project to eliminate drop-off at the pavement edge. This project also used a double drop method for applying pavement markings, a process that imbeds road striping into the pavement so that it is recessed and less susceptible to being scraped off by snow plows.
The project improves pavement ride-ability while also extending the service life of this section of highway. Work on the project began in April 2022.
Drivers are asked to use caution when traveling through the highway work zones and pay attention to all traffic control devices, including signs and flaggers.
Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.
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