SYRACUSE, N.Y.--The state Department of Transportation has narrowed its options for replacing the aging Interstate 81 elevated highway in Syracuse to two choices, and now it wants to know what the public thinks.

The DOT will hold the first in a series of six meetings around Syracuse and in Onondaga County's western suburbs from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Henninger High School, 600 Robinson St., Syracuse.

The DOT's two options, narrowed down from 16, asks the public to re-imagine how they use the highway slicing through the city. Those options are:

Replace the current elevated highway with a taller, wider version that would include changes at the Harrison-Adams Street, Interstate 690 interchanges and the creation of a new exit at Martin Luther King Jr. East.

Remove the elevated highway along the Almond Street corridor and disperse traffic onto the city street grid. This option calls for "through" traffic to be funneled around the city on Interstate 481, rebuilding Almond Street, and the creation of new exits off I-690 at Irving Avenue and Crouse Avenue to more efficiently move commuters to University Hill

» Graphic: I-81 boulevard option

» Graphic: I-81 viaduct option

This round of meetings in October and November are the latest in series of public meeting the state has been holding for years on what to do with the aging elevated section of I-81 that splits Syracuse.

Other meetings to be held include:

Wednesday, Oct. 19 6 to 8 p.m. Skaneateles High School, 49 E. Elizabeth St., Skaneateles

Thursday, Oct. 20 6 to 8 p.m. Grant Middle School, 2400 Grant Boulevard, Syracuse

Wednesday, Oct. 26 6 to 8 p.m. Syracuse Institute of Technology, 258 E. Adams Street, Syracuse

Tuesday, Nov. 1 6 to 8 p.m. Fowler High School, 227 Magnolia Street, Syracuse

Thursday, Nov. 3 6 to 8 p.m. Dr. King Elementary School, 416 E. Raynor Avenue, Syracuse

Public comments may be made by emailing I81Opportunities@dot.ny.gov, by letter at NYSDOT Region 3, I-81 Viaduct Project, 333 E. Washington St., Syracuse, NY 13202, or by calling the hotline at 855-481-8255.

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