OSWEGO – New York State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Paul A. Karas today (April 3) announced that construction has begun on a $1.9 million project to improve safety on State Route 481 at County Route 45 in the town of Volney.
The project will reconfigure the intersection to allow only right turns onto Route 481.
The intersection provides easy access for staff, residents and visitors to The Manor at Seneca Hill.
“Providing safe facilities for the traveling public is and will continue to be the highest priority for the State Department of Transportation,” Acting Commissioner Karas said. “These intersection improvements will allow for better access to the nearby nursing home, and all those traveling along Route 481.”
Limited sight distance and a wide center median make crossing the five-lane Route 481 difficult.
The project includes building two U-turns in the median of Route 481, one just north of the intersection with Route 45 and one just south of the intersection.
All traffic on Route 45 will be required to turn right at the intersection with Route 481.
When complete traffic on Route 45 will have two options:
Traffic heading east on Route 45 will be directed to turn right onto Route 481 southbound. Motorists can then proceed southbound on Route 481 or use the U-turn to access Route 481 northbound.
They can then head north or take a right turn onto Route 45 to continue heading east.
Traffic heading west on Route 45 will be directed to turn right onto Route 481 northbound.
Motorists can then proceed northbound or use the U-turn to access Route 481 southbound.
They can then head south or take a right turn onto Route 45 to continue heading west.
The change will all but eliminate the risk of right angle (T-bone) crashes at the intersection.
During construction, the posted detours will direct traffic to use Oswego County Road 57, Dutch Ridge Road and March Road.
The project is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
This project will greatly benefit The Manor at Seneca Hill, as most visitors and staff use the intersection of Route 481 and Route 45 for easy, direct access.
Assemblyman Will Barclay said, “I appreciate the DOT being attentive to the needs of drivers and passengers in Oswego County. This new planned configuration will address long-term safety concerns that will result in a safer intersection for those who live in Volney and those who travel through the area. I am glad that the DOT is making this project a priority.”
Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone.
In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license.
For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org, or the mobile site at m.511ny.org.
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The intersection to get on 481 from 57 by the jail is far more dangerous! Can’t see with the hill before Churchill rd. The intersection at 45 is fine. People are stupid and don’t wait their turn, try to beat traffic and then sit two wide and two deep in the center. 1.9 million will never fix human stupidity. Can’t wait to hear the complaining when there still are accidents with this new setup!