Lyndon Corners gets new lane markings to ease driver confusion

Bolder paint and dashed lane lines are now guiding drivers through Lyndon Corners, where faded striping had left many motorists unsure how to line up for East Genesee Street. The changes were added over the past month in DeWitt after complaints about confusing lane guidance at one of Onondaga County’s busier traffic points.

The new markings were meant to make the turn onto East Genesee Street clearer and reduce the hesitation that can lead to lane drifting and abrupt merges. The problem had become familiar to drivers coming out of the Fayetteville/DeWitt exit area, where quick decisions can affect traffic flowing through Syracuse, Fayetteville and DeWitt.

The state transportation department has also moved from temporary striping to permanent epoxy markings. In a May 22 update, the New York State Department of Transportation began applying those permanent markings on Interstate 481 southbound and at the Fayetteville/DeWitt exit, after using temporary lines through the winter. Weather was not suitable for permanent pavement markings, and the final striping would come once conditions improved.

At a recent DeWitt Town Board meeting, drivers said the lines were especially hard to see at night and in poor weather. One DeWitt Town Board member compared the old lane setup to Mario Kart.

A New York State Department of Transportation traveler advisory dated May 3 said State Route 5/92, East Genesee Street, would be reduced to one lane in both directions between Lyndon Corners and Paddock Drive on May 4 for pavement repairs. The Fayetteville/DeWitt exit off I-481 South opened last fall, and follow-up fixes continued into spring and early summer.