State Plans Nearly $20 Million In LI Road Improvements

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the state would be spending nearly $20 million on road improvement projects on Long Island. The projects include repairing pavement, installing guiderails and replacing signs.

"A 21st century transportation network is crucial to the future of Long Island's economy," Cuomo said. "These safety enhancements will transform Long Island's state roads, ensuring a safer, more efficient commute for thousands of drivers while spurring economic growth for decades to come."

The first project is $6.8 million in concrete repairs along Newbridge Road (Route 106) in the towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay. The project will repair nearly ten miles of road between Hempstead Turnpike and Old Country Road.

Crews will use High Early Strength Concrete, which sets more quickly than standard concrete, allowing the road to reopen to traffic sooner. In some locations, workers will employ diamond grinding, a process using special blades of diamonds to cut thin linear grooves into the surface of the road. This eliminates irregularities and bumps and results in a smoother ride. Using these two techniques will help the concrete last longer, saving taxpayer money.

Lane shifts will be primarily utilized during construction to avoid road closures and keep traffic flowing in both directions to accommodate the nearly 27,000 vehicles that travel the road each day. Project completion is scheduled for the summer of 2020.

The second two projects are budgeted $7.3 million to replace guiderails along the Southern State Parkway in the towns of Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Babylon and Islip, as well as on the Northern State Parkway in in the Town of Smithtown.

The guiderails to be replaced are located in the center median, on shoulders, at entrance and exit ramps and near the parkways' overpasses. The work includes installation of energy absorbing end terminals that absorb impacts and help keep vehicles from striking nearby objects, such as trees.

The state already spent $4.6 million along approximately seven miles of the Southern State Parkway in Hempstead, Oyster Bay, and Babylon wrapped up this winter. Work took place between the Wantagh State Parkway and Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway (Route 135), and between Route 109 and Route 231.

A new, $2.7 million project continues guiderail replacement on the Southern State Parkway in Babylon and Islip from Belmont Avenue to the Sagtikos State Parkway is planned. It also includes replacing guiderail on the Northern State Parkway in Smithtown between Commack Road (Suffolk County Route 4) and the end of the parkway at Veterans Memorial Highway (Route 454). The project will improve a combined five miles of parkway.

Cuomo said the state is also spending $5.2 million to replace overhead signs along roads in the towns of Babylon, Brookhaven and Islip. There are 20 new signs being installed, featuring panels that are highly reflective, making them more visible.

Signs will be replaced along Sunrise Highway (Route 27) and its service roads to better guide motorists on and off the highway. The project includes signs at Great Neck Road (Suffolk County Route 47) and Jerome Avenue and at Nicolls Road (Suffolk County Route 97).

In addition, overhead signs on northbound Route 110 and from Route 231 to the Southern State Parkway will be replaced. Most work will be done either behind concrete barriers or at night to avoid disruption to traffic. All new signs are scheduled to be installed by the spring of 2021.