Syracuse, NY – Drivers should avoid the highways Thursday afternoon as the first wave of closures begin on Interstate 81 as President Joe Biden arrives in Syracuse.
Around 12:40 pm Biden landed at the Syracuse airport. State troopers have closed I-81 south from Route 481 to Franklin Street in Syracuse as Biden heads to make a speech in downtown Syracuse.
By 12:45 pm, traffic traveling south on I-81 near Route 481 at Exit 29 in Cicero was near a standstill.
The stretch of I-81 is set to be shut down until around 1:30 pm, said Sgt. Jack Keller, a state police spokesperson.
Several roads in downtown Syracuse have also been closed in anticipation of the president’s visit.
South Franklin, West Jefferson and Walton streets are all closed to vehicles until around 4 pm Thursday.
I-81 North will be shut down as the president leaves the city and returns to the airport around 2:45 pm, state police said. Around 5 miles of the highway will be affected.
When Biden last visited Syracuse in October 2022, the president’s exit from the city caused massive traffic backups on I-690 West.
More on President Biden’s visit
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