Bridge Deck Replacement On I-690 In Syracuse

ALBANY, NY (09/14/2012)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Joan McDonald today announced upcoming bridge deck replacement work on the Interstate 690 bridges over Peat Street and Crouse Avenue, located in the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, just east of Interstate 81. This $3.4 million project is part of a $17.4 million contract to replace bridge decks on 13 structures in the Mohawk Valley and Central New York through Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's NY Works program.

"The use of precast bridge components not only reduces the length of construction time but also promises high quality and long-lasting structures," said Commissioner McDonald. "Modernizing our bridges while minimizing traffic disruption along a busy highway in an urban area is a win-win for everyone."

NYSDOT will replace the decks with pre-cast concrete panels, which are formed off-site then transported to the job location. The use of pre-cast panels significantly decreases the duration of construction by eliminating lengthy concrete cure times on site. These panels on the I-690 bridges are the first of their kind to be used on an interstate in Syracuse.

Interstate 690 is the main east-west route through Syracuse, serving local commuters and large trucks. Its connection with Interstate 81 allows access northbound to Canada and southbound to Pennsylvania and beyond. It is imperative that this corridor is kept in a state of good repair, while minimizing construction impacts to the more than 100,000 vehicles that travel these bridges every day.

Construction is scheduled to take place over four long weekend periods in September and October. At approximately 9 a.m. on Fridays, traffic will be diverted off the interstate onto local streets. Crews will then work around-the-clock to remove the existing deck, make necessary modifications to the substructure, and then place a series of pre-cast concrete panels onto the steel support beams. Flowable grout will then be used to lock the panels and the support beams together with a high performance concrete that is ten times stronger than standard concrete. The highway is expected to be reopened to traffic by the following Monday, just prior to the afternoon rush hour.

The tentative work schedule is as follows:

• Friday morning, September 14 to Monday afternoon, September 17: Westbound I-690 over Peat Street.

• Friday morning, September 21 to Monday afternoon, September 24: Eastbound I-690 over Peat Street.

• Friday morning, October 12 to Monday afternoon, October 15: Eastbound I-690 over Crouse Avenue.

• Friday morning, October 19 to Monday afternoon, October 22: Westbound I-690 over Crouse Avenue.

Detours will use Erie Boulevard and other city streets. Very heavy traffic, especially at intersections, can be expected during construction. Motorists are strongly cautioned to avoid the area near I-690 if possible during the closure periods. Note that Syracuse University football games at the Carrier Dome will be taking place on two of the scheduled closure weekends – Saturday, September 15 against Stony Brook and Friday, October 19 against Connecticut.

The construction contractor for the project is Slate Hill Constructors of Warners, Onondaga County. The Fort Miller Co. of Schuylerville, Saratoga County, fabricated the precast deck panels.

NY Works focuses on improving bridges that are in fair condition and bringing them to good condition. This preventive maintenance work will better preserve the state's infrastructure and guard against the need for more costly, in-depth construction. Bundling projects sites within close geographic locations into a single contract enables DOT to lower expenses and obtain lower bids.

For real-time travel information, call 511 or visit www.511NY.org. 511NY is New York State's official traffic and travel information source. The 511NY site and mobile app offers free, 24/7, statewide real-time traffic and transit information for all of New York State. It also offers a transit trip planner, camera views, weather alerts and forecasts. New features available at the website include additional mobile app features, border crossing times, new notifications on the home page and an interface that is easier to navigate.

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