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The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) is cutting down trees in Syracuse today, Tuesday (March 10), causing periodic lane closures in parts of the city as part of the ongoing Interstate 81 (I-81) viaduct reconstruction project.
According to Syracuse.com, crews will remove 22 trees in two locations: along Herald Place between Wallace Street and North Salina Street, and along the Onondaga Creek Walk south of the Evans Street bridge. Drivers and pedestrians in those areas should expect intermittent lane closures throughout the day.
The tree removal is tied to a hard deadline. The state must have the trees down by Monday (March 31) to protect endangered bats. Bats spend the winter hibernating and are not currently roosting in the trees, making this the safest window for removal. Once that window closes, cutting the trees could threaten the animals.
The removals are not permanent. Officials said new trees will be planted later this year when contractors begin work on storm water lines in the area.
The tree cutting is one small piece of a much larger construction effort. As reported by Central Current, the I-81 viaduct project is one of the most significant infrastructure undertakings in Central New York's history. When complete, the project is expected to free up nearly 12 acres of land on Syracuse's Southside — land that has sparked a wide-ranging debate about who should own it and how it should be used.
Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens has been pushing the state to expedite a land transfer to the city. "Construction on the viaduct is coming home fast," Owens told Central Current reporters in January. "We've been turning up the dial a little bit on pushing for land ownership now. We cannot wait until the end of the project."
However, the state says it will not identify surplus parcels or determine ownership until construction wraps up, which is anticipated to happen in 2029. DOT spokesperson TeNesha Murphy said the state is working on forming a land use working group and plans to hold a stakeholder meeting to explore options for the surplus land.
For now, Syracuse residents should plan for traffic disruptions near Herald Place and the Onondaga Creek Walk through the end of the day as crews complete the tree removal.