The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is in the midst of a series of public meetings to explain changes that are coming to Onondaga Lake Parkway in the next two years.
The project would add a raised median down the middle of the parkway while reducing the number of lanes from four to two. NYSDOT spokesman Curtis Jetter said it’s a matter of safety. NYSDOT statistics show accidents on the parkway have a fatality rate that’s ten times higher than on similar roads.
"It’s just gotten to the point where the safety of the driving public on Onondaga Lake Parkway is in need of an update," Jetter said. "So this project allows us to bring the parkway more inline with safety standards of today."
Jetter said there have been concerns from the Village of Liverpool that these changes would cause traffic back ups, but he said that wont’ happen.
"The traffic light at Heid's Corner acts as the controlling mechanism for traffic onto the parkway," he said. "So it’s not everyone piling into the parkway at once and trying to merge down into one lane."
The one thing these changes don’t affect is the long troubled CSX railroad bridge. Because of its low clearance, it’s been the scene of many accidents over the years. Jetter said while there is no progress on changing the bridge, which is owned by CSX, traffic will be moving slower and there is more shoulder room that would allow large vehicles to turn around.
Open houses have been scheduled through late February. The project should begin next year and be finished in late 2022.
Future open house dates (all meetings held at Liverpool Public Library)
Thursday, January 30 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Monday, February 3 – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, February 14 – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, February 19 – 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, February 24 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
