Fort Drum Centennial Celebration: Soldiers To March 25 Miles

Fort Drum is celebrating its 100th birthday this week and it’s beginning the festivities by honoring the north country’s first military installation - Madison Barracks in Sackets Harbor.

Officials say 350 soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment will march from the barracks to Sexton Field on Fort Drum.

The 25 mile march begins at 9 p.m. Tuesday and is expected to end by 11 a.m. Wednesday.

The New York State Police in cooperation with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will be temporarily closing local routes along the march path.

The routes and times for the closures are as follows:

- State Route 180 from Baggs Corners to Dexter will be closed from 12:30 a.m. until 1:30 a.m. the morning of Wednesday, June 25.

- The I-81 off ramps at Exit 46 (State Route 12F Coffeen Street) will be closed from 3 a.m. until 5 a.m. Motorists may use Exit 45 or Exit 47 during this time period and variable message boards will be in place making motorists aware of the closure.

- State Route 283 from the Watertown city limits to State Route 342 will be closed from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m.

Motorists that typically use these routes are urged to seek alternative routes during the closure periods.