Interstate Travel Information

Interstate 481 New York

Routing

Interstate 481 serves as a half-beltway around the city of Syracuse, New York to the east of the city core. There were plans to create Interstate 481 as a full beltway around Syracuse, but concept that never materialized. Additionally it should be noted that Interstate 481 was planned (and possibly signed) as Interstate 281 when it was built between Interstate 81 northeast to Interstate 690 near the community of DeWitt. The numbering change coincides with the extension northward to Interstate 90, the New York State Thruway, and Interstate 81 at North Syracuse. Beyond the north parent junction, the Interstate 481 freeway continues as New York 481 to Oswego. The route is limited-access to Fulton, but not all the way to Oswego. At-grade intersections are present on the segment of highway north of Fulton to the terminus at Oswego - The Port City of Central New York.

It appears that the numbering change of the Syracuse belt line from Interstate 281 to Interstate 481 may have occurred to reduce confusion with the nearby New York 281 in Cortland County. The state highway version of 281 is situated just 18 miles to the south of the southern terminus at Preble/Exit 13 of Interstate 81.

Mileage

State Mileage Cities Junctions
New York 15.04 DeWitt, Syracuse Interstate 81, Interstate 690, Interstate 90/New York Thruway, Interstate 81
Source: October 31, 2002 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

Interstate 481 New York Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

County	From:	To:	AADT Composite
Onondaga	Exit 1 Interstate 81	Exit 2 Jamesville Road	19,800
Onondaga	Exit 2 Jamesville Road	Exit 3 NY 5 & 92 DeWitt	32,500
Onondaga	Exit 3 NY 5 & 92 DeWitt	Exit 4 Interstate 690 west	57,400
Onondaga	Exit 4 Interstate 690 west	Exit 5 Kirkville Road	45,900
Onondaga	Exit 5 Kirkville Road	Exit 6 I-90 N.Y. Thruway	32,900
Onondaga	Exit 6 I-90 N.Y. Thruway	Exit 7 New York 298	27,900
Onondaga	Exit 7 New York 298	Exit 8 Northern Boulevard	23,700
Onondaga	Exit 8 Northern Boulevard	Exit 9 I-81 & NY 481 begin	28,800
New York 481
Onondaga	Exit 9 I-81 & I-481 end	Exit 10 U.S. 11 N. Syracuse	43,700
Onondaga	Exit 10 U.S. 11 N. Syracuse	New York 31 Euclid	24,500
Onondaga	New York 31 Euclid	Oswego County line	21,000
Oswego	Onondaga County line	CR 57A Phoenix	21,000
Oswego	CR 57A Phoenix	New York 264 Phoenix	17,100
Oswego	New York 264 Phoenix	CR 57	14,900
Oswego	CR 57	Fulton east city line	21,100
Oswego	Fulton east city line	New York 3 & 176 - Fulton	21,900
Source: NYSDOT 2002 Traffic Volume Report

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Southern Terminus - Interstate 81 - DeWitt, New York
Perspective from Interstate 481 south
	Interstate 481 southbound approaching Exit 1 for Brighton Avenue. The graphical overhead shows the pathway for the final three off-ramps of Interstate 481. Brighton Avenue actually interchanges with Interstate 81 to the north of Interstate 481 at Exit 17. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	Rock Cut Road draws into view as Interstate 481 enters its final mile along southbound. Rock Cut Road parallels the northbound side and is accessible via Exit 1. Southbound travelers near the Brighton Avenue off-ramp and Interstate 81. Brighton Avenue parallels Interstate 81 between New York 173 (Seneca Turnpike) and State Street. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	Exit 1 leaves Interstate 481 southbound ahead of the tri-level stack interchange with Interstate 81. Interstate 481 drivers partition into lanes for Interstate 81 north to Syracuse and Interstate 81 south to Cortland and Binghamton ahead. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	Nearing the Brighton Avenue overpass on Interstate 481 southbound. The freeway ends ahead at the split between north and south Interstate 81. Interstate 81 southbound departs Syracuse for the Onondaga Indian Reservation and village of LaFayette. Northbound enters the southern reaches of Syracuse and the community of Skytop. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	Drivers partition between the respective ramps of Interstate 81 at the Brighton Avenue overpassing. The Exit 1 on-ramp joins the northbound Interstate 81 ramp for downtown Syracuse. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	The end Interstate 481 southbound shield is posted on the northbound return ramp to Interstate 81 and downtown Syracuse. In the background is advance guide signage for Exit 17 to S. Salina Street and the aforementioned Brighton Avenue. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).

Perspective from Interstate 81 north
	Since New York state retains sequential based exit numbering practices, Interstate 481's southern terminus is signed at Exit 16A. This is because the original Exit 16 serves U.S. 11 at Indian Village four miles to the south. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (05/15/02).
	Exit 16A guide signage on Interstate 81 northbound as it enters the Syracuse metropolitan area. The sign bridge in the background is where the off-ramp is actually located. The control city of DeWitt is a southeastern suburb of Syracuse, located five miles to the northeast. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (05/15/02).
	Interstate 481 northbound departs from Interstate 81 for a 15 mile journey. Interstate 81 meanwhile continues northward through the heart of downtown Syracuse. Both Interstate highways intersect Interstate 690 within ten miles. Downtown Syracuse is just four miles to the north. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (12/01/02).
Perspective from Interstate 81 south
	Interstate 81 southbound reduces from three to two lanes at the southern terminus of Interstate 481/Exit 16A. The off-ramp for the Syracuse bypass departs from the left as this overhead guide sign suggests. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	Interstate 481 north/Exit 16A is the last exit of Interstate 81 within the metropolitan area of Syracuse. Otherwise another 70 miles separates Interstate 81 from the city of Binghamton at this point. The signage depicted in this photograph was installed in Summer 2000. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	Interstate 81 southbound signage at Exit 16A/Interstate 481 northbound. Two lanes are allocated for the bypass eastbound as Interstate 81 continues out of Syracuse toward rural environs through the Onondaga River valley. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	The predecessors of the guide signage in the above photobox. This photograph shows that the original Interstate 81 southbound control point was the town of Cortland, the seat of the county by the same name, some 32 miles to the south. Note also that an exit-only panel had not existed on the Exit 16A panel until 2000. The Photo taken by Chris Curley (04/00).
	Glen Avenue passes over Interstate 81 at the southbound split with Interstate 481 (Exit 16). Interstate 481 migrates east to Lyndon and Dewitt and north to East Syracuse. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
Northern Terminus - Interstate 81 - north of Syracuse, New York
Perspective from Interstate 481 north
	Interstate 481 transitions into New York 481 at the Interstate 81/Exit 9N/S interchange at North Syracuse. This photograph shows the cloverleaf ramp for Interstate 81 south and advance guide signage for the first northbound New York 481 interchange at U.S. 11. Note the end shield in the background and the fact that the exit numbering scheme of Interstate 481 continues onto New York 481. Photo taken by David Greenberger (12/19/99).
	Visible in the background of the above photograph, the end Interstate 481/north New York 481 shield assembly at the Interstate 81 interchange. New York 481 travels 21 miles to Fulton and 32 miles to Oswego. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (08/00).
Perspective from New York 481 south
	The New York 481 freeway enters its final interchange (Exit 10) with U.S. 11 (Brewerton Road) three-quarters of a mile west of the transition to Interstate 481. U.S. 11 parallels Interstate 81 to the west through the town of North Syracuse. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	The Exit 10 on-ramp forms an exit-only lane for Exit 9S (Interstate 81 south) on New York 481 south. Interstate 81 travels south from the Thousand Islands Bridge through Watertown to meet New York 481 at North Syracuse. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	Interstate 481 southbound begins and New York 481 ends as Exit 9S for Interstate 81 south into downtown Syracuse departs from the right. Interstate 481 intersects the New York Thruway/Interstate 90 in five miles and the eastern terminus of Interstate 690 in eight miles. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	New York 481 transitions into Interstate 490 20 miles after the state highway left the town of Fulton as a freeway. Exit 9N loops onto Interstate 81 northbound for Watertown ahead. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	Traffic to Interstate 81 north departs New York 481 south at Exit 9N for the northern suburbs of Cicero and Brewerton. Interstate 81 crosses into Oswego County north of Exit 31 at Oneida Lake. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	Interstate 481 takes over for New York 481 as it leaves the Interstate 81 full-cloverleaf interchange. The first mainline interchange of the Interstate bypass exists at Northern Boulevard 1.1 miles to the east. Interstate 481 meets the New York Thruway (Interstate 90) in 5.5 miles. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
Perspective from Interstate 81 south
	All commercial truck traffic that has destinations south of Syracuse should use Interstate 481 in lieu of Interstate 81 through downtown. This sign is posted for Exit 29S on southbound Interstate 81. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	Southbound Interstate 81 at Exit 29N/New York 481. The city of Oswego is included on this guide sign, even though for Interstate 81 southbound travelers it is in the opposite direction. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (05/19/02).
	The overhead sign bridge pictured in the above photograph was removed by 2005 and replaced with a ground-level guide sign at the Exit 29N ramp departure. New York 481 northbound ventures west from Interstate 481 to North Syracuse on the 11-mile drive to Phoenix and Oswego County. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	A set of Interstate 481 & New York 481 shields reside at the Exit 29N gore point of Interstate 81 southbound. The cloverleaf-ramp for Interstate 481 south to Lyndon and the New York Thruway departs in 0.25 miles. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	Exit 29S leaves Interstate 81 south for the southbound beginning of Interstate 481. As Interstate 481 bypasses to the east, Interstate 81 encounters the Syracuse Hancock International Airport and New York Thruway before entering downtown in seven miles. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (05/21/02).
Perspective from Interstate 81 north
	Within one mile of Exit 29 on Interstate 81 northbound. Note that Oswego is substituted for North Syracuse on the advance guide signage as opposed to that on Interstate 81 southbound. Also note that since the Interstate 481 ramp (Exit 29S) is encountered first, the Interstate is given proper precedence over the state route counterpart. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (07/26/02).
	Drawing to within one-quarter mile of the full-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 481 & New York 481 (Exits 29S/N) on Interstate 81 northbound. Interstate 481 encircles the city of Syracuse between North Syracuse and DeWitt. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	Entering the Exit 29 interchange on Interstate 81 northbound, with Interstate 481 southbound beginning to the right. The last New York state city of significance for Interstate 81 northbound, Watertown, is 62 miles to the north. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).
	Exit 29N serves New York 481 northbound to Phoenix and Fulton. New York 481 continues the Interstate 481 freeway northwest 20 miles to S. 4th Street in Fulton. New York 481 proceeds northward from there as a surface route to the Oswego County seat of Oswego. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05).

Page Updated March 21, 2006.