UTICA - The bridge over Oriskany Boulevard in Utica needs work. Now, the State Department of Transportation has plans to stretch the improvements all the way to Sunset Avenue.

The research points to one key concept - taking the arterial over court street.

"We got about 45,000 cars a day on the arterial," said Stephen Zywiak, a Regional Design Engineer. "And 70% are trying to get through those 5 signals out there. They're not trying to get off at Court or any of the other intersections."

Route 12 as we know it today was built in the 1960's. Safety is the main concern, but the State Department of Transportation is looking at this development as a way to bring the city together.

"I think we have an opportunity with the Brewery District," Zywiak said. "What's happening at Munson Williams, the Stanley, to try and facilitate easier access to all these major developments that the city is trying to progress."

Here's how it's going to work:

Starting from the bridge over Oriskany Boulevard, traffic will move over Court Street and start to descend around Warren Street.

From there, you would be driving at ground level, past Noyes and Oswego Streets.

And a pedestrian bridge would be built over Sunset Avenue.

"We're looking at the key concept of that concept and looking at how do we fit it in to life with a $40 million project."

The goal is to make as many residents and business owners happy while keeping the highway functional. A public meeting will take place at the end of next month, and heavy construction is slated to begin in Spring of 2011.