In the mid-1950s, the first section of the highway was completed, connecting Tully (modern exit 14) to Nedrow (16), just south of Syracuse. Another section, extending from North Syracuse (26) to Brewerton (31), was opened to traffic in the late 1950s. In the North Country, the first completed section ran from Adams (41) to Pamelia (48); it was put into service on October 21, 1959. Extensions of the North Syracuse–Brewerton segment south into downtown Syracuse (19) and north to Parish (33) were completed . The section between modern exits 38 and 41 in southern Jefferson County was finished in November 1961, and the gap between the Syracuse–Parish and Jefferson County segments was filled on December 1, 1961, creating a continuous limited-access highway between Syracuse and Watertown.