UTICA - Tuesday kicks off the public comment period for the North South Arterial Project.

Nearly 30 possible plans have been pared down to 15 and those will be on display Tuesday at Utica City Hall.

The State Department of Transportation, or D.O.T., is bringing the public in on this project from the very beginning; they don't even plan on choosing their plan from the 15 possibilities we mentioned until Summer of 2009. Their first construction contract set for 2010.

The North South Arterial was built in the 1960s, rehabbed in 1991 and is nearing the end of its useful life.

How will this project change it?

There is one constant in all 15 alternatives - the bridge will be extended; in other words the part of the arterial that intersects court street will be raised for about a 500 foot span.

There will also be fewer traffic lights forcing you to stop along the North South Arterial, and easier access on and off of it.

"Well, the biggest benefit will be the ability to move through to New Hartford or through the north part of town, but also improved access via the two interchanges at court and Oriskany Boulevard," said Stephen Zywiak, Regional Design Engineer.

If you want to see the 15 alternatives the D.O.T. is floating, they invite you the Common Council Chambers at Utica City Hall Tuesday from 1 - 5 p.m. and again from 6 - 9 p.m.

There will be enough D.O.T. personnel to explain everything and listen to your input as well.

Just to give you an idea of the magnitude of this project; the D.O.T. normally spends about $50 million a year on capital projects in a six county region.

This project alone has a $50-56 million price tag. The federal government picks up 80% of that. The other 20% you pay for through the gas tax and other transportation taxes.