Syracuse, N.Y. -- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered a stop to all non-essential construction in New York on Friday due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to the order, exceptions would be made for “emergency construction,” such as projects where the health and safety of the occupants is an issue or if it would be unsafe to allow a project to remain unfinished.

Under the previous wording of Cuomo’s order to stop non-essential work, construction projects were all considered essential.

Based on updates wording relon Friday, the order seems to threaten the progress of the Carrier Dome renovation. A spokesperson for Syracuse said the school was currently looking into what the order meant for the project.

Construction at the Carrier Dome was continuing on as scheduled as of Friday at 12:10 p.m.

Among the projects listed as essential by the state were roads, bridges, transit facilities, utilities, hospitals, health care facilities, affordable housing and homeless shelters. It was not immediately clear if other projects could also be considered essential or if exceptions would be made.

Under Cuomo’s order, the sites that continue to operate are required to maintain social distancing. If they are unable to maintain social distancing, the state said those sites would be forced to close. Projects that violate those rules would include a fine of up to $10,000 per violation.

Syracuse plans to replace the building’s old air-inflated roof with a tension membrane version before the upcoming football season, along with planned improvements to the building’s lighting and sound systems and the addition of a center-hung scoreboard.

The air-inflated roof was deflated for the final time less than two weeks ago.

Syracuse Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer Pete Sala has talked frequently about the complexity of the project and the tight timeline involved. Syracuse is playing its first two football games on the road next year to provide time to finish the work, which was scheduled to be finished before the Orange’s first home football game on Sept. 19 against Colgate.

Some in the construction industry have advocated for work to be allowed in areas outside of New York City, where the virus has not been as widespread.

“We do believe that the industry has the ability to continue to work on projects, both public and private, in regions and in scope where the distancing and other necessary precautions can and are being achieved — and where the rate of infection is dramatically lower than in the New York City region,” Mike Elmendorf, president and CEO of Associated General Contractors of New York, told the Albany Business Journal. “We hope the governor’s order will allow flexibility for the industry to continue working where they can do so safely, and in doing so, continue to keep commerce moving and supply chains open where possible.”

Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

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