This week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an addition to the Interstate 81 Viaduct Project’s community engagement toolbox with its I-81 Connect mobile app. The app builds on the community outreach efforts implemented during the project’s planning and environmental phases during construction.
The I-81 Connect mobile app incorporates the convenience into the largest infrastructure project in the New York State Department of Transportation’s (NYSDOT) history, according to the department. The app will deliver real-time project updates and travel alerts and allow the Central New York Community to connect with the I-81 Project team directly.
“Community engagement does not stop once construction begins,” Gov. Hochul said. “NYSDOT is building on the robust public outreach that has accompanied every stage of this project, as we step into the future of community engagement with the new I-81 Connect mobile app. Our commitment to ensuring the residents of this community are involved in every aspect of this undertaking will remain strong until the viaduct comes down and the neighborhoods surrounding it are reconnected for good.”
The I-81 Viaduct Project is part of a commitment to futureproof New York State's infrastructure and invest in projects that promote connectivity and multi-modal transportation opportunities for communities across the state. The project will take down a 1.4-mile stretch of elevated highway that has divided the city of Syracuse for generations and implement a Community Grid that will reconnect neighborhoods.
When users navigate to the section titled “Connect with Us” on the app’s home screen, they will be redirected to clickable links that call the I-81 Viaduct Project toll-free hotline or draft an email to the project team. The notification feature on the app provides NYSDOT the ability to send messages about important project information directly to the user’s mobile device.
Downloading the app automatically enables users to receive important project updates and traffic alerts on their mobile devices. Additionally, users can opt-in to receive email notifications.
Work on the I-81 Viaduct Project has been in progress for two years, with four of the project’s eight contracts in construction and a fifth contract anticipated to start later this spring. Additionally, final design on phase two of the project has begun. The project’s first two contracts focusing on reconstructing the existing I-81/I-481 northern and southern interchanges into Business Loop 81 and I-81, are anticipated to be substantially complete by the end of this year.
Source: The New York State Department of Transportation, Finger Lakes Daily News
