Members of Long Island’s Albany delegation were able to mark their success in directing attention to fixing the Long Island Expressway (LIE – Rte 495), ensuring that New York State infrastructure resources were dedicated to overdue and much-needed repairs.
State legislators, including members of both the Senate and Assembly, gathered recently at the Long Island Welcome Center on the LIE to commemorate the success of their hard work to address safety and efficiency concerns on the vital traffic artery.
The Governor’s office announced last week that the project would replace more than 280 miles of pavement on key stretches of the LIE in Suffolk County, significantly improving the mobility of the hundreds of thousands of motorists travelling to and from New York City, as well as between homes and workplaces on Long Island.
“I am grateful to Governor Hochul and the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) for expediting the much-needed repaving of the LIE,” said Assembly Member Doug Smith (R,C,I-Holbrook). “I am happy that the concerns of our residents and local officials have been heard and look forward to seeing the project completed.”
In addition to hundreds of miles of new road in Suffolk County, the project will also address issues with entrance and exit ramps in Queens at Kissena Boulevard, Utopia Parkway and Francis Lewis Boulevard.
“New York needs to manage its spending wisely,” said Assembly Member Michael Fitzpatrick (R,C,I-Smithtown). “The Expressway is critical to Long Island’s economic well-being and must provide a safe and expeditious route for travelers in cars and trucks, whatever their destination.”
“I have spoken to the DOT on the critical need to repave the LIE and [this] announcement is an important first step to ensure it gets done,” said Senator Alexis Weik (R- Sayville). “The safety of our motorists is paramount and I am pleased that the DOT is making repaving the LIE—a majority of which will take place in the 3rd Senate District—a priority.”
The issue of safety was front and center for all of the legislators.
“The repaving will make travel on the LIE safe and will keep women and men in labor busy for years to come,” said Assembly Member Jodi Giglio (R,C,I- Riverhead). “Thank you Governor Hochul and NYS DOT for making this long awaited project happen.”
Assembly Member Joe DeStefano (R,C,I- Medford) agreed. “The state DOT moving forward with bids to resurface the LIE could not come soon enough. This is a vital roadway for all of Long Island and must be properly maintained. The state must stay on schedule with the bidding process and get the job done. The safety and economic well-being of millions of people depends on it.”
For completion, rather than safety … the faster the better.
“I want to thank the Hochul administration and the DOT commissioner for hearing our pleas and for advancing the schedule of paving the LIE from Exits 47-65 to fix the unsafe conditions for motorists and motorcyclists,” said Assemblyman Keith P. Brown (R,C,I- Northport). “We are happy to see it being done. It’s overdue!”
