Interstate 781
Encyclopedia
Interstate 781 is a future auxiliary Interstate Highway that is under construction north of Watertown
in Jefferson County, New York
, in the United States. When complete, the route will extend for 4.9 miles (7.9 km) from I-81
in Pamelia
to the main entrance of Fort Drum in Le Ray
. It will also have one intermediate interchange with U.S. Route 11
(US 11) just west of Fort Drum. I-781 will be four lanes wide and is expected to serve as the principal travel corridor into and out of the fort.
The original designation for I-781 was New York State Route 781 (NY 781). On April 13, 2009, the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) designated NY 781 as a future Interstate Highway corridor and as "Future I-781". The I-781 designation will not officially take effect until the highway is complete.
located 0.7 miles (1.1 km) north of exit 48 (NY 342
) in the town of Pamelia
. It will proceed to the east, roughly paralleling NY 342 as it heads toward Fort Drum. I-781 will have one intermediate interchange with US 11
just west of Fort Drum before it terminates at Fort Drum's main gate. The highway will be four lanes wide, with two lanes for each direction.
(NYSDOT) had begun to evaluate potential ways to improve Fort Drum's access to I-81
. Three alternatives were considered: the construction a new highway that would run north of NY 342
and directly connect I-81 to the main gate of Fort Drum; the construction of a new route to the south of NY 342 that would link I-81 to US 11
southwest of the fort's main gate; and improving the existing NY 342. In November 2005, NYSDOT officials announced that the southern route had been chosen and that it would cost $64 million to construct. However, just two months later, NYSDOT announced that they now favored the northern alignment after receiving input from area residents and the United States Army
. According to NYSDOT Commissioner Thomas Madison, the new alignment would have less of a negative impact on future development around Fort Drum and cost $7 million less to construct.
The proposed highway was initially designated as NY 781 by NYSDOT. On February 11, 2008, NYSDOT submitted an application to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
requesting that NY 781 be designated as Interstate 781. The FHWA
designated NY 781 as a future Interstate Highway corridor on April 13, 2009; however, the I-781 designation was not officially assigned at this time as per United States Code
an Interstate Highway designation can only be assigned to a completed highway built to Interstate Highway standards
. As a result, FHWA stipulated that the highway can only be referred to as "Future I-781" until I-781 is completed and the designation is officially assigned.
The project received $724,000 in funding from the United States Department of Transportation
(USDOT) in June 2008. Another $1.425 million was granted by USDOT in January 2010. The project had been nominated to receive $95 million in funding through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery
grant program; however, the application was rejected in February 2010. NYSDOT officials had seen the funding as a way to free up money for other projects in the area rather than funding that was necessary to construct I-781. Much of the project—projected to cost between $106 million and $113 million—will be funded through several state and local sources, with at least $16.6 million coming from NYSDOT.
s—an endangered species
of bat
—live in the area in and surrounding the proposed right-of-way of the Fort Drum Connector (I-781). As a result, several concessions were made, including clearing trees during the winter season while the bats are hibernating in caves, purchasing and setting aside land to replace those lands lost during construction, and leaving trees in the 40 feet (12 m) to 50 feet (15 m) of land alongside the highway that would typically be cleared to serve as embankments. The last of the three changes will preserve 21 acres (8 ha) of forest. NYSDOT will install guardrails along the length of I-781 to make up for the narrower shoulders. The site preparation contract—which included the clearing of trees along the proposed I-781 right-of-way—was awarded to The Delaney Group on December 26, 2009. Work on this portion of the project took place from February 2010 to May 31, 2010, and cost $722,000.
NYSDOT had originally planned on opening the bidding process for the construction of I-781 itself on April 1, 2010; however, the date was pushed back to May 6 due to the lack of an approved state budget. The state previously had plans to award the contract as early as December 2009; however, the earlier date was conditional on the allocation of enough funds for the project by that time. On July 20, NYSDOT announced that a $56.5 million contract was let to Lancaster Development of Richmondville
to construct the freeway. Work on the highway began the week of July 20 and a formal groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 4. Total completion of the project is slated for August 2012.
.
{| class="wikitable"
!scope="col"|Location
!scope="col"|Mile
!scope="col"|Destinations
!scope="col"|Notes
|-
|Pamelia
|0.0
|
|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|rowspan=2|Le Ray
|4.7
|
|
|-
|4.9
|Fort Drum main gate
|
Watertown (city), New York
Watertown is a city in the state of New York and the county seat of Jefferson County. It is situated approximately south of the Thousand Islands. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 27,023, an increase of 1.2% since 2000. The U.S...
in Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
, in the United States. When complete, the route will extend for 4.9 miles (7.9 km) from I-81
Interstate 81 in New York
Interstate 81 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Dandridge, Tennessee, to the Canada – United States border at Wellesley Island in New York. In the U.S. state of New York, I-81 extends from the Pennsylvania state line southeast of Binghamton to the Canadian border...
in Pamelia
Pamelia, New York
Pamelia is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 3,160 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Pamelia Williams, the wife of a landowner and developer....
to the main entrance of Fort Drum in Le Ray
Le Ray, New York
Le Ray is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 21,782 at the 2010 census. The town is named for Jacques-Donatien Le Ray, from France.The Town of Le Ray is in the central part of the county and is east of Watertown....
. It will also have one intermediate interchange with U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 11 in New York
U.S. Route 11 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the Canadian border at Rouses Point, New York...
(US 11) just west of Fort Drum. I-781 will be four lanes wide and is expected to serve as the principal travel corridor into and out of the fort.
The original designation for I-781 was New York State Route 781 (NY 781). On April 13, 2009, the Federal Highway Administration
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
(FHWA) designated NY 781 as a future Interstate Highway corridor and as "Future I-781". The I-781 designation will not officially take effect until the highway is complete.
Route description
I-781 will begin at a new interchange with I-81Interstate 81 in New York
Interstate 81 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Dandridge, Tennessee, to the Canada – United States border at Wellesley Island in New York. In the U.S. state of New York, I-81 extends from the Pennsylvania state line southeast of Binghamton to the Canadian border...
located 0.7 miles (1.1 km) north of exit 48 (NY 342
New York State Route 342
New York State Route 342 is a short east–west state highway in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The western terminus of NY 342 is at an intersection with NY 12 near the hamlet of Scoville Corners in the town of Pamelia. The eastern terminus is at a junction with...
) in the town of Pamelia
Pamelia, New York
Pamelia is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 3,160 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Pamelia Williams, the wife of a landowner and developer....
. It will proceed to the east, roughly paralleling NY 342 as it heads toward Fort Drum. I-781 will have one intermediate interchange with US 11
U.S. Route 11 in New York
U.S. Route 11 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the Canadian border at Rouses Point, New York...
just west of Fort Drum before it terminates at Fort Drum's main gate. The highway will be four lanes wide, with two lanes for each direction.
Origins and funding
By 2003, the New York State Department of TransportationNew York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
(NYSDOT) had begun to evaluate potential ways to improve Fort Drum's access to I-81
Interstate 81 in New York
Interstate 81 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Dandridge, Tennessee, to the Canada – United States border at Wellesley Island in New York. In the U.S. state of New York, I-81 extends from the Pennsylvania state line southeast of Binghamton to the Canadian border...
. Three alternatives were considered: the construction a new highway that would run north of NY 342
New York State Route 342
New York State Route 342 is a short east–west state highway in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The western terminus of NY 342 is at an intersection with NY 12 near the hamlet of Scoville Corners in the town of Pamelia. The eastern terminus is at a junction with...
and directly connect I-81 to the main gate of Fort Drum; the construction of a new route to the south of NY 342 that would link I-81 to US 11
U.S. Route 11 in New York
U.S. Route 11 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the Canadian border at Rouses Point, New York...
southwest of the fort's main gate; and improving the existing NY 342. In November 2005, NYSDOT officials announced that the southern route had been chosen and that it would cost $64 million to construct. However, just two months later, NYSDOT announced that they now favored the northern alignment after receiving input from area residents and the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. According to NYSDOT Commissioner Thomas Madison, the new alignment would have less of a negative impact on future development around Fort Drum and cost $7 million less to construct.
The proposed highway was initially designated as NY 781 by NYSDOT. On February 11, 2008, NYSDOT submitted an application to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, is a standards setting body which publishes specifications, test protocols and guidelines which are used in highway design and construction throughout the United States...
requesting that NY 781 be designated as Interstate 781. The FHWA
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
designated NY 781 as a future Interstate Highway corridor on April 13, 2009; however, the I-781 designation was not officially assigned at this time as per United States Code
United States Code
The Code of Laws of the United States of America is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal laws of the United States...
an Interstate Highway designation can only be assigned to a completed highway built to Interstate Highway standards
Interstate Highway standards
Standards for Interstate Highways in the United States are defined by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in the publication A Policy on Design Standards - Interstate System...
. As a result, FHWA stipulated that the highway can only be referred to as "Future I-781" until I-781 is completed and the designation is officially assigned.
The project received $724,000 in funding from the United States Department of Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
(USDOT) in June 2008. Another $1.425 million was granted by USDOT in January 2010. The project had been nominated to receive $95 million in funding through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery is a supplementary discretionary grant program included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009...
grant program; however, the application was rejected in February 2010. NYSDOT officials had seen the funding as a way to free up money for other projects in the area rather than funding that was necessary to construct I-781. Much of the project—projected to cost between $106 million and $113 million—will be funded through several state and local sources, with at least $16.6 million coming from NYSDOT.
Construction
In April 2009, project engineers discovered that Indiana batIndiana bat
The Indiana bat is a medium-sized mouse-eared bat native to North America. It lives primarily in eastern and midwestern states and in parts of the south of the United States. The Indiana bat is gray, black, or chestnut in colour and is 1.2–2 inches and weighs about 1/4 an ounce...
s—an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
—live in the area in and surrounding the proposed right-of-way of the Fort Drum Connector (I-781). As a result, several concessions were made, including clearing trees during the winter season while the bats are hibernating in caves, purchasing and setting aside land to replace those lands lost during construction, and leaving trees in the 40 feet (12 m) to 50 feet (15 m) of land alongside the highway that would typically be cleared to serve as embankments. The last of the three changes will preserve 21 acres (8 ha) of forest. NYSDOT will install guardrails along the length of I-781 to make up for the narrower shoulders. The site preparation contract—which included the clearing of trees along the proposed I-781 right-of-way—was awarded to The Delaney Group on December 26, 2009. Work on this portion of the project took place from February 2010 to May 31, 2010, and cost $722,000.
NYSDOT had originally planned on opening the bidding process for the construction of I-781 itself on April 1, 2010; however, the date was pushed back to May 6 due to the lack of an approved state budget. The state previously had plans to award the contract as early as December 2009; however, the earlier date was conditional on the allocation of enough funds for the project by that time. On July 20, NYSDOT announced that a $56.5 million contract was let to Lancaster Development of Richmondville
Richmondville (town), New York
Richmondville is a town in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 2,610 at the 2010 census. The town name was adapted from the name of a post office in its territory....
to construct the freeway. Work on the highway began the week of July 20 and a formal groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 4. Total completion of the project is slated for August 2012.
Exit list
The entire route is in Jefferson CountyJefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
.
{| class="wikitable"
!scope="col"|Location
!scope="col"|Mile
!scope="col"|Destinations
!scope="col"|Notes
|-
|Pamelia
Pamelia, New York
Pamelia is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 3,160 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Pamelia Williams, the wife of a landowner and developer....
|0.0
|
|Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
|-
|rowspan=2|Le Ray
Le Ray, New York
Le Ray is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 21,782 at the 2010 census. The town is named for Jacques-Donatien Le Ray, from France.The Town of Le Ray is in the central part of the county and is east of Watertown....
|4.7
|
|
|-
|4.9
|Fort Drum main gate
|