Your Stories Q&A: A question about the new exit numbers on I-81

CENTRAL SQUARE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — You ask, we answer!

The Your Stories Team has received several questions about the new exit numbers on Interstate 81.

Earlier this summer, the New York State Department of Transportation announced it was changing exit numbers on Interstates 81, 690, and State Route 481 to a mile-based system.

For example, Marathon used to be Exit 9. It’s now Exit 38 because it’s approximately 38 miles from the Pennsylvania border.

One NewsChannel 9 viewer noticed some of the new exit numbers don’t match the nearby mile markers you see on the side of the interstate.

For example, Central Square is now Exit 106, however, it’s located between mile markers 103 and 104.

The viewer was curious as to why the exit and the miles markers didn’t align, and if the NYSDOT will eventually update the mile markers to match.

We sent the question to the NYSDOT to get an answer. Here’s their statement:

The new mile-based exit numbers account for the future re-aligned I-81. When Interstate 481 is redesignated to I-81 the highway will be longer. Mile marker postings along I-81 are displaying numbers for the current alignment. NYSDOT crews will be replacing the current mile marker signs with new signs based on the future alignment.

The NYSDOT didn’t provide a timeframe for when the smaller mile marker signs will be replaced. As for the exit signs, the NYSDOT said 12 have been completed on Interstate 81.

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