Build-Out of Community Grid Begins With New I-690/Crouse Ave. Interchange Project

Drivers traveling I-690 eastbound over the past several weeks have probably encountered delays as crews create a new interchange with Crouse Avenue. An open house Thursday sheds more light on the project the state Department of Transportation is calling Contract Four.

If you’ve been anywhere near the project site lately, you can’t miss the racket. The state DOT’s I-81 project director Elizabeth “Betsy” Parmley explains.

“What you hear in the background, that won't be happening through the life of the project," Parmley said. "That's for us to actually build the wall that will hold up the new on ramp from Crouse Ave.”

Parmley says the future ramp allows drivers to hop on I-690 eastbound. On the other side of the highway, she says westbound drivers will have an exit ramp to Crouse. Parmley says when complete, Crouse and eventually Irving Avenues will accommodate peak traffic patterns to and from University Hill. She calls this part of the project a preparatory contract.

“This is starting to build out that community grid," Parmley said. "And so people coming from the north, from Cicero, they'll be able to either get off Business Loop 81 or they'll be able to connect from Business Loop 81 to 690 like they do today, but they can get off at either Irving or Crouse.”

The project is sure to disrupt businesses in the area, so the DOT is keeping business groups and owners informed. Parmley says most concerns revolve around maintaining access.

“For example when we work on Crouse or Irving, we'll be keeping the roads open," Parmley said. "It may be reduced to, say, a single lane, but we're keeping it open. We'll be putting signage out to make sure people know that businesses are still open, how to get to the business.”

The same will be true on seven other streets, including Erie Boulevard when Parmley says the DOT replaces a major sewer line underneath the roadway.

“Anytime there's a conflict with, say, a water line or something like that, we'll be replacing that as well," Parmley said. "So there's a tremendous amount of infrastructure that's getting replaced under the pavement that people don't see, but they'll benefit from.”

Completion of Contract Four is expected by mid-2027.

Thursday’s open house takes place from 6 to 8 pm at SUNY Upstate’s Biotech Accelerator on East Fayette Street and Irving Ave.

This article was originally published on WAER.