East Colvin Street Paving Project South Salina St. to Jamesville Ave.

Introduction

The City of Syracuse’s East Colvin Street Paving Project is planned for construction starting in Spring 2023.  The project extends from South Salina Street east to Jamesville Avenue, a distance of 2,650 feet (0.5 mile).  This project is the first of two projects planned by the City to improve the mobility and safety of vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic along East Colvin Street from Salina Street east to the city line at Nottingham Road.

East Colvin Street is an east-west arterial street connecting Syracuse’s south and east sides.  It provides access to Syracuse University’s South Campus student housing area, athletic complex and student/staff commuter parking lots.  The street also provides crosstown access to Onondaga Community College on Onondaga Hill.  An on-ramp to northbound I-81 from Colvin Street provides quick access from the Outer Comstock neighborhood to downtown.

Please click here to view an updated flyer for the project.

Existing Conditions

The existing pavement on East Colvin Street consists of a concrete foundation course and a hot mix asphalt (HMA) wearing surface.  Aging pavement and heavy traffic over time has caused the HMA pavement riding surface to wear and develop wheel path rutting.  Longitudinal cracks have developed at deteriorated joints in the concrete foundation course.  There are utility repair pavement cuts that have not been properly restored with full depth pavement.  Sections of the existing granite curbing are misaligned or damaged or do not have proper reveal.

East Colvin Street has sidewalks along both sides of the street. Some sidewalk sections, particularly between South Salina Street and Garfield Avenue, are in generally good condition.  Many sections of sidewalk between Garfield and Jamesville Avenues are in poor condition with misaligned or missing concrete slabs, or are at a grade that is too low to drain to the roadway. Many sidewalks directly abut the curbline, with no snow storage area.  Many curb ramps do not meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines.

Project Objectives

The city has initiated this project to correct these deficiencies and provide a safe and maintainable transportation corridor.

The primary objectives of this project are to:

  • Rehabilitate and preserve the pavement, including full depth repairs where needed.
  • Replace sidewalks in poor condition and bring all curb ramps up to current ADA requirements.
  • Replace or reset deficient curbing and reconstruct driveway aprons where needed.
  • Provide needed repairs to existing drainage structures.
  • Replace signal detector loops.
  • Provide adequate accommodation for bicyclists consistent with NYSDOT standards and the Syracuse Bicycle Plan 2040.
  • Install street trees and other plantings to improve the appearance of the corridor.

Approved Project Design

East Colvin Street will receive a “2R” type pavement rehabilitation. This consists of rehabilitating East Colvin Street by milling the existing pavement and installing a 3 1/2″ thick asphalt paving overlay.  Nominal lengths of intersecting side streets will also be resurfaced. Severely damaged areas of pavement will receive full depth repairs.  Deteriorated sections of curbing will be replaced.

The project includes curb line adjustments at the Garfield Avenue and East Colvin Spur intersections to improve safety for bicyclists and motorists and eliminate excess pavement. The pavement removal areas will become lawn areas with trees.

In accordance with the Syracuse Bicycle Plan 2040, the existing bike lanes will be maintained from Garfield Avenue east to Jamesville Avenue. Shared used lanes will be provided west of Garfield Avenue.

Pedestrian accommodations will be upgraded to meet current ADA standards.  Deteriorated linear sidewalk sections will be replaced, with greater setback from the curb provided where right-of-way allows.  Sidewalk curb ramps will be replaced to include new embedded detectable warning units.  A new uncontrolled crosswalk will be provided near Dougal Avenue to provide continuity for the sidewalk on the south side of Colvin Street, and will include standard crosswalk markings and pedestrian crossing signs. Standard pedestrian crossing signs will be provided for the existing uncontrolled crosswalk at Jamesville Avenue at the east end of the project.

Deteriorated drainage structures will be cleaned and repaired or replaced as needed.  Manhole and drainage structure rims will be adjusted to finished grade.  Replacement pavement markings and signage will be installed.  Improved lighting will be provided  near the I-81 and railroad overpasses. Additional street trees will be installed along with other plantings in the area near the railroad overpass to improve the appearance of the street.

Please click here to view the Design Drawings.

Maintaining Access During Construction

Paving and other construction operations will occur during daylight hours.  Two-way traffic will be maintained, except for occasional alternating single lane traffic with flagger control during some construction operations. Where a sidewalk is closed for reconstruction, pedestrians will be routed to the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street. Traffic access to businesses and residences will be maintained and efforts will be made to keep inconvenience to the public at a minimum.

Property Impacts

There is no acquisition of property necessary for this project. All improvements will be constructed within the public highway right-of-way. Releases for repairing driveway and sidewalk connections to abutting properties will be requested from owners before the beginning of the construction.

Anticipated Costs

The total project cost, including design engineering, construction and construction inspection/administration, is anticipated to be approximately $3,560,000.  This project is 80% federally funded and 20% state and city funded.

Utility work by National Grid and City Water Department

During 2022, National Grid will be installing new gas mains and services and the Syracuse Water Department will be installing new water services along East Colvin Street in the project area.

I-81 Project

The I-81 project will be adding a new off-ramp from the northbound lanes at East Colvin Street, a new traffic signal at the off-ramp, and will include rehabiliation of the I-81 overpass. The NYSDOT website has more information: https://webapps.dot.ny.gov/i-81-viaduct-project 

Project Schedule

Obtain Construction Bids: Fall 2022

Begin Construction: Spring 2023

Complete Construction: Late Summer 2023

Public Questions

If you have any comments or questions on the project that are important to you, please contact:

Russell Houck, P.E.
Facilities Engineer
Department of Engineering
City of Syracuse
233 East Washington Street, Room 401
Syracuse, NY 13202
(315) 448-8059
rhouck@syrgov.net

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