The Syracuse Common Council sent requests for proposals to more than 100 companies to assess what to do with Interstate 81 that runs through the city. Common Councilor-at-Large Van Robinson spoke at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at SU today. He said companies are proposing to run a study on what to do with the highway, whether it's reconstructing or removing it.
Robinson says something has to be done with I-81. "This highway is at the end of its life expectancy. If nothing is done, we can just sit back because the highway is going to fall down on its own" he said.
Robinson says state senators Chuck Schumer and Hilary Clinton, city leaders and business people have accepted the idea of removing the part of I-81. The city is now looking for feedback on the project from the general public. People have already expressed concerns about increased commute times and getting to work and Robinson says these issues will be addressed in the study.
Nineteen engineering and consulting firms already have bid to run the study and gather information from people who live in the Syracuse area. Bids will be accepted until August 5th.
Robinson says the study could take one to two years and he wants I-81 through Syracuse to be removed by 2015.
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