On the move to ramp up road safety on Long Island, Governor Kathy Hochul has set in motion a $7 million project targeting the makeover of a couple of heavily trafficked intersections, this initiative is part of a broader strategy to cut roadway fatalities down to zero. The project will involve reconfiguring exit ramps, introducing additional lanes for turning, and installing new pedestrian crosswalks in an effort to streamline traffic and boost safety for those on foot and behind the wheel, as announced in a press release from her office.
Part of the Southern State Parkway and State Route 25 will see the transformation — at Exit 15 in Nassau County, current separate northbound and southbound exit ramps, which are problematic in terms of space and traffic control for the over 8,000 vehicles a day using them, will be replaced with a single ramp, expected to feature two lanes designated for southbound turning and one for northbound traffic, and later this summer work will also commence at a complex intersection in the Town of Huntington that involves Jericho Turnpike, Broadway Greenlawn, and Dix Hills Road where improvements will include adding new turn lanes and upgrading signals.
"Safe and efficient transportation systems are important to New Yorkers' quality of life and the well-being of local communities," Governor Hochul said. According to the official announcement, to minimize the disturbance to the public, the construction will take place during off-peak times and at night when there's less traffic, ensuring that local businesses can keep their doors open without disruption during the overhaul.
Despite the current change being a topic of interest for local legislators such as State Senator Mario Mattera who highlighted the enhancement of safety as the prime concern, and Assemblymember Michaëlle Solages who lauded the Governor for addressing traffic and safety issues at Exit 15, the New York State Department of Transportation aims to keep Long Island roads just as accessible as before while improving upon their safety.
“The safety of our residents is the number one priority and these enhancements on Route 25 will help improve the safety of our roads for both motorists and pedestrians. Secondly, it will enhance travel through this area and that is a welcome change. I thank Governor Hochul and the NYSDOT for making this critical investment in our infrastructure and want to express my appreciation to the hardworking and skilled men and women who will undertake the labor of these important improvements,” Mattera told in the press release, and with the same vein of commitment, Solages mentioned that the upgrades will ease traffic, reduce crashes, and make roads safer for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Expected to wrap by spring of 2026, these overhauls are hoped to pave the way for safer journeys ahead.
Lives hang in the balance with these infrastructure developments; "Slow down and move over for highway workers!" is the call to action as NYSDOT continues to connect and protect the community's commuters. For more details on the traffic changes and road work, the public can visit NYSDOT's social platforms or dial 511 for travel updates, as per the Governor's office.
