Onondaga Lake Parkway Commercial Vehicle Exclusion Now in Effect

ALBANY, NY (12/09/2011)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald today announced that commercial vehicles are banned from the Onondaga Lake Parkway – Route 370 – between I-81 and the Village of Liverpool. The commercial vehicle exclusion took effect late this morning when the last of the signs announcing the ban was installed. The ban is aimed at preventing over-height vehicles from crashing into the low CSX railroad bridge over the Parkway.

"Our safety enhancements have become a central feature of the Onondaga Lake Parkway," said Commissioner McDonald. "Banning commercial vehicles will make travel on this very busy Parkway even safer."

"No Commercial Vehicles" signs have been placed at all approaches to the Parkway, including I-81 and Park Street in the City of Syracuse, and Oswego Street in the Village of Liverpool. Drivers of all vehicles with commercial license plates on these approaches are directed to use Old Liverpool Road as a bypass.

The one exception to the ban is for commercial vehicles less than 10 feet, 9 inches high that must use the Parkway for the delivery or pick-up of merchandise or other property along the Parkway between I-81 and the Village of Liverpool. Those vehicles will be allowed to travel the highway.

The commercial vehicle exclusion is a result of traffic analysis, meetings with local officials and a public comment period. The ban is in addition to a variety of steps NYSDOT has taken to improve traffic safety on the Parkway and ensure that drivers of over-height vehicles are aware of the CSX bridge and avoid it.