Governor Cuomo Announces Start of $25.6 Million Road Reconstruction Project in Brookhaven, Suffolk County

LongIsland.com

Jug Handle Redesign at NY Route 347, 112 Intersection Will Reduce Delays, Fuel Use and Enhance the Environment.

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Albany, NY - May 13, 2013 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the start of the $25.6 million NY Route 347 at 112 intersection reconstruction project in the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County. The project is the third in a series of Route 347 corridor projects planned to improve safety for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians and reduce travel delays by transforming NY Route 347 into a modified boulevard and suburban greenway for 15 miles through Smithtown, Islip and Brookhaven. This next Route 347 project will reconfigure the NY Route 347 at 112 intersection to include a jug handle to reduce travel delays, fuel use and vehicle emissions and a pocket park to improve the aesthetic appeal of this major intersection.
 

“The new New York is committed to prioritizing stronger and smarter infrastructure projects that create jobs,” Governor Cuomo said. “Ensuring driver safety and improving this intersection will benefit both commuters, their communities.”
 

“Under the leadership of Governor Cuomo, another NY Route 347 project is moving forward with impressive safety and environmental improvements that benefit residents, businesses, community groups and the 71,000 drivers who use Route 347 each day,” NYSDOT Commissioner Joan McDonald said. “This vital project was recently awarded the top GreenLITEs award for environmental excellence because it incorporates the highest level of sustainable elements. And, remembering that drivers come first, construction will progress in a way that provides the least hassle for the driving public so the work can get done quickly and efficiently while keeping Long Islanders moving.”
 

Features of the NY Route 347 at 112 intersection reconstruction project include:
 

  • A third travel lane on NY Route 347 in both the eastbound and westbound directions for a distance of a half mile in the vicinity of NY Route 112;
  • Construction of a jug handle in the southeast quadrant of the intersection for northbound NY Route 112 to westbound NY Route 347, and for westbound NY Route 347 to southbound NY Route 112;
  • Construction of a jug handle in the northwest quadrant of the intersection for southbound NY Route 112 to eastbound NY Route 347 and for eastbound NY Route 347 to northbound NY Route 112;
  • Construction of a pocket park in the southeast quadrant to serve as a green gateway and recreation area to the local community and a greenway stop for bicyclists and pedestrians;
  • An off-road shared-use path on the south side of NY Route 347;
  • Landscaping and tree plantings;
  • Improved drainage to aid roadway storm water run-off;
  • Bus service realignment;
  • New traffic and pedestrian signals;
  • High visibility pedestrian crosswalks, countdown timers and refuge areas;
  • New solar and LED lighting.

 

“The ongoing state efforts to improve travel throughout Route 347 will help improve the ability of all Long Islanders driving in this region,” said Senator John Flanagan. “When completed, this project will help strengthen the businesses in the area, reduce pollution and allow residents to move around more conveniently. I applaud Governor Cuomo for working to keep this project moving forward,”
 

"I’m grateful to the Department of Transportation for hearing the civic voices of the community in their call for a community park,” Assemblyman Steve Englebright said. “The final design for our area was shaped by cooperation between the civic community, the NYS DOT, the Town of Brookhaven, and the shopping center land owners. This joint effort will not only enable the greening of Route 347, but also provides for a new and important park in the Terryville-Comsewogue community for children and families to recreate. All told, this collaborative project will bring great benefit to all who use these local roads and who live in the community."
 

“I applaud New York State for working closely with the community to put together such an innovative approach for improving this critical intersection,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said. “I am grateful we have leaders like Governor Cuomo, Senator LaValle and Assemblyman Englebright who understand the importance of innovative thinking to improve our infrastructure in a sustainable way. This project is a win-win-win which will improve traffic flow, create jobs and offer new amenities to the community.”
 

“This $25.6 million development project will provide significant improvement to the lives of those who live and travel along Route 347 in Brookhaven,” Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine said. “Not only will this new construction increase the safety of all who pass by the 112 intersection, it is also being undertaken with care toward reducing traffic delays and beautifying the surrounding area. Governor Cuomo should be commended for his longstanding commitment to helping build better New York communities.”
 

Originally built in the 1950s as a farm delivery route, NY 347 grew along with the suburban development boom into a major east-west corridor. In 1969, an average of 48,000 vehicles per day used this roadway; today approximately 71,000 vehicles use the road each day. The planned vision for the entire NY Route 347 corridor includes the “Parks to Ports and Harbors” unifying theme to tie together many assets and local destinations such as Blydenburgh County Park and the Port Jefferson Harbor.
 

To minimize the impact of construction, access to businesses will be maintained throughout construction; pedestrian traffic will be maintained at all times; and most construction activities that require travel lane closures should be conducted during night time hours. Construction is being performed by Scalamandre and Sons, Inc. of Freeport, New York under contract with NYSDOT and is scheduled to be completed in 2015.
 

For real-time travel information motorists should call 511 or visit www.511NY.org, New York State’s official traffic and travel information source. Motorists may also obtain travel information from the INFORM Transportation Management Center cameras atwww.INFORMNY.com and on their hand held communication devices at www.INFORMNY.mobi.
 

The featured project website, www.NY347.org, provides detailed project information, including a link to the FEIS and project plans.

 

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For More Information, Please Contact:

Governor's Press Office
NYC Press Office: 212-681-4640
Albany Press Office: 518-474-8418
Press.Office@exec.ny.gov