Workers Still Trying to Fix Binghamton’s I-81 “Big Dip”

It's taking highway repair crews a lot longer to deal with a sinking section of Interstate 81 in Binghamton than experts had hoped.

The "big dip" in the southbound right lane of the highway near the troubled bridge over Chenango Street is receiving more attention in an overnight repair project this week.

The DOT described the trouble as "settlement of the roadway" but some motorists who've driven over the sinking segment are concerned it may be an indicator of a serious issue.

The spot is located just east of the I-81 bridge over Chenango Street that started sinking shortly after it was built just over a decade ago.

A complicated and costly scheme was devised to address what the DOT called "uncharacteristic settlement" of that bridge. The project - which cost several million dollars - resulted in the closure of Chenango Street around the span for almost 15 months.

The urgent repair project now underway near the Brandywine Highway is being done at night to minimize the impact on traffic. The work is scheduled between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.

When the DOT announced the new round of repairs, it said the work was expected to take at least seven days to complete.

An agency spokesperson this week said the cause of the latest Interstate 81 "settlement" problem had not been determined.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.