ONONDAGA, N.Y. — Work is underway on a $6.2 million project to replace the Sentinel Heights Road bridge over Interstate 81 in the town of Onondaga. 

The project will replace the existing bridge, which was built in 1963. Crews will construct a new two-span, multi-girder structure that will “enhance safety and improve resiliency along an important connector,” linking the communities of Nedrow and Sentinel Heights, New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez announced March 15. 

Also known as Onondaga County Route 174, Sentinel Heights Road is frequently used by emergency service vehicles and provides access to the nearby Onondaga Nation territory, the DOT added.

“This bridge replacement project will help ensure that an important route for local residents and emergency service vehicles remains open and accessible for many years to come, facilitating the continued well-being of the entire region,” Dominguez said.

The new bridge will be 35 feet wide and have higher clearances above I-81 than the original structure, the DOT said. It will also feature five-foot shoulders on each side and concrete barriers with fencing to facilitate pedestrian and bicycle use and enhance safety.

Located just north of Onondaga Nation territory, the new bridge will also be adorned with the image of an Onondaga Nation wampum belt, honoring the Nation’s culture and heritage. The DOT collaborated with the Onondaga Nation to develop the plans for the image, the department noted.

“While the I-81 Community Grid project is often discussed, we are also making progress with other pieces of critical infrastructure,” New York State Assemblymember Pamela Hunter (D–Syracuse) said. “The Sentinel Heights Road Bridge is over a half-century old and I support the New York Department of Transportation’s decision to invest in its replacement. This will be a great benefit for local residents who frequently use the span as well as emergency services that rely on safe and modern transportation infrastructure.”

During construction, traffic will be directed to a signed detour route to the south utilizing Kennedy Road, Kennedy Road Spur, U.S. Route 11, and Rockwell Road. As part of the preliminary project work, the detour routes will also undergo significant improvements, including resurfacing, restriping, and guiderail replacement. 

Construction is expected to be completed by this December, the DOT said.