VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Jillian Schumacher (Reporter): The i-81 project, one of the largest infrastructure projects in Central New York history, began construction in 2023 and has a long way to go. The goal? Reconnect neighborhoods long divided by the viaduct and improve traffic flow. The construction of I-81 has created jobs for CNY residents.
Joe Driscoll (I-81 Project Director): It’s always been kind of my dream to get us off those lists of the highest concentration of poverty and segregation. I would really love to play a part in helping the city get off those lists, really the bad lists that we are on.
Jillian Schumacher (Reporter): Here is what you need to know to take advantage of these new opportunities. Applicants must meet all of these requirements. They must first live in the listed areas and must face one of the following barriers to employment. To apply, go to the i-81 job opportunities page on the N-Y.gov, and click on the job seeker intake form to fill out the following information. You can also use the app to apply and get other information on traffic alerts and construction updates. Once you click on the i-81 jobs within in the app, you will also be taken to the job seeker intake form.
Joe Driscoll (I-81 Project Director): What the app does, among many other things, is also an opportunity the app you can apply for a job if you want to get a job on the site.
Jillian Schumacher (Reporter): With this project looking to be completed in 2028, there is still plenty of time to take advantage of these job openings. 15% of the overall employment hours on the project are being performed by Syracuse residents living in the areas most affected by the i-81 project.
Carol Hill (Director of Workforce Development at SUNY EOC) A number of the individuals we have trained are now on the I-81 project and are apprentices in the unions. for these individuals, it’s just changing their lives.
Jillian Schumacher (Reporter): Any training needed for the roles will be provided, and wages vary from 20 to 30 dollars an hour and the opportunities don’t end with I-81 … the Syracuse build initiative is a statewide campaign to increase job security. It is a pipeline for locally hired construction workers and unions, providing guidance through apprenticeship programs.
Key Points:
- The I-81 project is transforming Syracuse’s infrastructure and aims to reconnect communities.
- The state has created a streamlined process for locals to apply for jobs on the project via this form.
- Local hiring incentives and training programs like Syracuse Build are expanding access to construction careers.
- The project is expected to be completed by 2028.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – One of the largest infrastructure projects in Central New York history will not only reshape the city’s skyline, but also could shape your career.
The Interstate 81 viaduct replacement project aims to take down the aging elevated highway that cuts through downtown Syracuse and replace it with a street-level business loop. At the same time, I-481 will be updated and redesignated as the new I-81, rerouting high-speed traffic around the city.
The goal is to reconnect neighborhoods long divided by the viaduct and improve traffic flow, while also investing in sidewalks, lighting, bridges, and bike paths. Work has already begun at the northern and southern interchanges, and as of March 12, crews started updating exit signs to reflect new mileage-based markers.
A New Pathway to Join the Workforce
Historically, anyone interested in working on the project had to navigate job fairs, in-person assessments, and multiple nonprofits. But now, there’s a more direct route.
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has launched a Local Hire Interest Form on its I-81 project website. This form allows people to express interest in job opportunities on the site—ranging from equipment operators and truck drivers to ironworkers and carpenters. No prior experience in highway construction is required.To qualify, applicants must live in specific Syracuse ZIP codes, hold an OSHA 10 card, and be eligible to work in the U.S. Contractors are incentivized to hire local residents, especially those who face employment barriers like single parenthood, lack of a diploma, or past convictions.
© 2025 Maria Wainscott
A Historic Approach to Local Hiring
This initiative marks one of the first major infrastructure projects in the nation to include local hiring incentives written into the contracts. The NYSDOT has broken the massive undertaking into eight separate contracts, each with targeted goals for local workforce participation.
The I-81 Connect app distils all job opportunities and information about the project into a handheld, user-friendly platform.
“What the app does, among many other things, like it’s also an opportunity. The app, you can apply for a job. If you want to get a job on the site, there’s all types of neat things that the app does,” said Driscoll.
Driscoll says phase one of construction will take about two to three years, followed by phase two—which includes tearing down the 1.4-mile viaduct—taking another two to three years. The full project is expected to be completed by 2028.
Syracuse Build and Pathways to Apprenticeship
To help prepare the workforce, the City of Syracuse has launched Syracuse Build, a mayor-led initiative designed to train and connect local residents to jobs on major public works projects, including I-81.
Carol Hill, director of workforce development at SUNY EOC, has seen the impact of these training efforts firsthand.
“A number of the individuals we have trained are now on the 81 project, and are apprentices in the unions,” Hill said. “For these individuals, it is just — it’s changing their lives.”
Syracuse Build works in partnership with unions, employers, and training providers to bring diverse, local talent into the construction industry. A key piece of that is the Pathways to Apprenticeship program, which gives participants foundational training aligned with union standards. The curriculum is designed to prepare people for careers in building trades, especially those who are unemployed, underemployed, or facing barriers to employment.
NYSDOT and the NY Department of Labor have committed $1 million to workforce training and placement, helping people match their skills to in-demand roles. Services provided include orientation, skills assessments, career planning, work readiness training, and even on-the-job training.
To explore job training and local hiring programs, visit CNY Works.
A Chance to Help Rebuild Syracuse
Driscoll, who is overseeing the city’s coordination with the DOT, says the project holds significance beyond traffic and construction.
“It’s always been kind of my dream to get us off those lists of the highest concentration of poverty and segregation,” Driscoll said. “I’d really love to play a part in helping the city get off those lists.”
Driscoll pointed to decades of disinvestment tied to redlining and segregation policies that divided Syracuse. For him, the I-81 project is a chance to reset.
“I’ve always said it’s like a broken arm that didn’t heal right and now needs to be broken and reset,” Driscoll said. “We want to create some environmental and economic justice throughout the process.”
Want to Learn More?
You can visit the I-81 project website to fill out a local hire interest form or download the app to track construction progress, road closures, and job opportunities.
For additional help with training or employment resources, contact the NYS Department of Labor at (315) 473-8250.