Syracuse, N.Y. —The state is spending $7 million to ease congestion and improve safety at several of northern Onondaga County’s busiest intersections, according to the state Department of Transportation.
The work will rebuild seven junctions in the towns of Clay and Cicero and the village of North Syracuse, state officials said in a news release Friday. Some of the work is already underway while the rest is expected to be completed by fall 2026, they said.
The upgrades are designed to improve traffic flow at key access points to Route 481, Interstate 81 and other heavily traveled roads, while also adding new safety features for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The project includes redesigned ramps, new crosswalks, updated traffic signals and expanded lanes along sections of Route 31, Route 11, Soule Road, Lakeshore Road and Bear Road.
Changes are aimed at reducing daily backups that routinely affect commuters in the fast-growing northern suburbs, the officials said.
Route 481 and Route 31
Construction is already underway in Clay, where the Route 481 northbound off-ramp to Route 31 is being widened from one lane to two. The change is intended to prevent traffic from backing up onto the highway and to improve access to the busy commercial corridor along Route 31.
Farther south, beginning in spring 2026, work will start on the Soule Road on-ramp to Route 481 south. That ramp will also be expanded to two lanes before tapering back to one at the merge point. The redesign is meant to improve traffic flow for drivers heading toward Route 31, nearby neighborhoods and Oswego Road.
Crabtree Lane and the I-81 interchange
In Cicero, major changes are planned along Crabtree Lane near the Interstate 81 interchange. The road will be reconfigured so drivers can no longer turn left onto southbound Route 11, and Crabtree Lane will become a no-outlet street at Route 31. A new crosswalk will be added on the east side of Route 11.
Once Crabtree Lane is closed at Route 31, the state will build a dedicated right-turn slip lane from Route 31 east to the I-81 south on-ramp. The ramp itself will be widened to two lanes. A new crosswalk with rectangular rapid-flashing LED lights will be added across Route 31 in the busy commercial district.
Lakeshore Road and Route 31
The intersection of Lakeshore Road and Route 31 will also see upgrades. Plans include a new traffic signal with video detection, a dedicated left-turn lane on southbound Lakeshore Road and a new crosswalk on the north side of Route 31.
Route 11 and Bear Road
In North Syracuse and Cicero, Route 11 at Bear Road will be restriped and reconfigured to provide two left-turn lanes for drivers heading east on Bear Road, a through lane toward Main Street, and a right-turn-only lane for westbound Bear Road traffic.
Bear Road itself will be widened to three lanes between Route 11 and the Route 481 ramps. Additional changes at the Route 481 southbound ramp include the creation of two left-turn lanes for east Bear Road traffic entering the highway and an added lane on the ramp. The existing slip ramp from westbound Bear Road to Route 481 southbound will be removed; drivers will instead use the traffic signal.
Pedestrian upgrades and project timeline
Throughout the project, the state will replace outdated curb ramps and install new ones to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Drainage improvements and new pavement work are also planned.
The Priority Intersections Project is funded by the state and is expected to be completed by fall 2026.
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