I-81, a major north-south route in New York, historically ran through downtown Syracuse on an elevated viaduct. In 2024, construction began on a series of projects to remove re-route I-81 onto I-481, the eastern bypass of Syracuse, and convert the existing route of I-81 into a business loop, with the viaduct removed and that portion brought down to street level. NYSDOT has website for the viaduct project depicting how the area will be reconfigured.
The images below have been obtained from the USGS Eros Archive and Google Earth.
The centerpiece of I-81 through Syracuse was the I-690 interchange, shown here from 2019 (Google).
The viaduct continued south from the I-690 interchange, shown here from 2019 (Google).
The southern interchange between I-81 and I-481, historic exit 16A, shown here from 2019 (Google)
I-81 at historic exit 17 (Brighton Avenue/Salina Street) in 2019 (Google)
I-81 around historic exits 21 (Spencer Street) and 22 (Court Street) in 2019 (Google)
I-81 around historic exits 23 and 24 (NY 370) in 1981 (top, USGS) and 2019 (bottom, Google); the interchanges were reconfigured and merged, with the original alignment of I-81 becoming part of the interchange.
The area where historic I-81 meets the Thruway was reconfigured when I-81 was built. The interchange is shown here in 1957 (top, USGS) and 2017 (bottom, Google).
The area around historic exits 26-28 (US 11, Syracuse Airport, and Taft Road) in 2017 (Google)
The northern interchange with I-81, historic exit 29, was initially a trumpet interchange before becoming a cloverleaf when I-481 was completed. The interchange is shown here in 1981 (top, USGS) and 2019 (bottom, Google).
The interchange between I-481 and NY 5/NY 92 in 2019 (Google); the interchange is being reconfigured to eliminate the southbound loop ramp and replace it with a left turn from the other southbound off ramp.