The upgraded conditions will simplify traffic and improve safety at critical intersections in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Governor Kathy Hochul provided an update on the repair and replacement of several Long Island bridges as part of a $48.5 million investment to enhance safety and improve traffic conditions on major roadways.
These items include:
-
Construction of a new $22.9 million interchange in Brookhaven, Suffolk, carrying Hospital Road and the Sunrise Freeway; -
Concrete deck renovations for nine bridges spanning Nassau and Suffolk counties totaling $25.6 million.
“New York continues to make important investments in renovating and modernizing our state’s infrastructure,” Governor Hochul said. “These bridges are an important link connecting the people and businesses of Long Island, and our work will provide better travel experiences and easier commutes for decades to come.”
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Governor Hochul understands that infrastructure is what binds our communities together, and under her leadership, New York State is making historic investments that will not only rebuild our transportation network, but build it back better and better. Strong. These projects on Long Island will benefit the dozens of thousands of motorists who use these bridges every day and will help ensure road users can get where they need to go safely and efficiently.”
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said, “There is an urgent need to improve Long Island’s bridge and road infrastructure to address congestion and our growing population. We welcome Governor Hochul’s investment in these important projects.”
Huntington Township Supervisor Ed Smith said, “I have said repeatedly that the main problem in Huntington and in all of Long Island is infrastructure. Our roads and bridges are the lifelines of employment, education and recreation in our communities, but were never designed to handle the volume of traffic they are experiencing now. Residents have The right to drive on our roads and know they are safe. The Town of Huntington thanks Governor Hochul for funding to ensure the LIE Interchange and our Long Island roads are structurally sound and safe for travelers.”
Town of Hempstead Deputy Superintendent Dorothy Gooseby said, “Governor Hochul, thank you for your investment in Long Island’s roads and infrastructure. The residents of the Town of Hempstead will benefit from these much-needed road improvements to address congestion.”
Hospital Road Overpass
Construction of the new Hospital Road overpass on Sunrise Highway (State Route 27) began last year, continued through the mild winter and is now about halfway complete. Workers are replacing the existing structure, built in 1959, with a more modern, wider intersection. The first full span of the new structure opened in mid-April.
The new bridge will feature a striped median, sidewalks in each direction, and 12-foot-wide shoulders to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic. More than 12,000 vehicles pass through the overpass every day.
Turning lanes to service roads will also be added at each end of the bridge plaza, and rebuilt intersections will feature enhanced traffic lights with countdown timers for pedestrians.
During construction, traffic in both directions of the bridge remained unimpeded, with minimal disruption to both roads. The project, expected to be completed by the end of the year, is a joint venture between the town of Brookhaven, which designed the interchange, and the state Department of Transportation, which will oversee its construction. The project team has been coordinating with nearby Long Island Community Hospital to meet its needs without disrupting operations.
Bridge Deck Updates and Repairs
A major effort to replace concrete bridge decks began last spring with the goal of updating the running surfaces of nine Long Island bridges. Work on three of these sites was completed last year, and work has now begun on five bridges on the Long Island Freeway (Interstate 495) in Suffolk County.
Concrete bridge resurfacing projects to be completed in Nassau County in 2022 include:
-
LIE over Locust Lane, Village of East Hills; -
Express Drive South over Washington Avenue, Town of Oyster Bay; -
The Stewart Avenue ramp leads to the southbound Meadowbrook State Parkway in the town of Hempstead.
The five bridges currently under construction on the Long Island Expressway in Suffolk County include:
-
LIE at Blue Point Road (eastbound span), Brookhaven Township; -
LIE at Blue Point Road (westbound span), Brookhaven Township; -
LIE over Holbrook Road (westbound span only), Town of Brookhaven; -
LIE over Round Swamp Road (eastbound span), Huntington Township; -
The LIE is on Round Swamp Road (westbound span) in Huntington Township.
The sites are expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Additionally, a concrete bridge deck renewal project that began last spring on the Hubbards Trail on the Sunrise Highway in Babylon Township, Suffolk County, was able to continue through the mild winter and is now more than halfway complete. The project is scheduled for completion in late summer 2023.
Construction at these sites is primarily taking place behind barriers to avoid major disruptions to the traveling public. Motorists are reminded to remain vigilant while driving, to read work zone signs carefully and to take extra care when staff are present.
Motorists are urged to plan accordingly and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines for speeding in work zones are doubled. Two or more convictions for speeding violations in a work zone may result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license.
For the latest travel information, call 511 and visit www.511NY.org Or download the free 511NY mobile app.
Follow NYSDOT on Twitter @NYSDOT and @NYSDOTLI. Find us on Facebook Facebook.com/NYSDOT.
