By Joe O’Halloran
Long Islanders might soon be enjoying an easy ride on the government’s proposed stimulus bill that many residents have been waiting on for months.
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On Monday, New York State Governor David A. Paterson announced that construction began on a $1.7 million project to repair distressed and aging sections of concrete state roadways in various parts of Nassau and Suffolk counties.
The project is the first transportation project funded through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (A.R.R.A.).
The act, which is based off the proposals that President Obama announced would kick start the economy back in February, focuses on federal tax relief, expanding unemployment benefits, and providing other social welfare benefit programs. Paterson said the efforts made by both the President and members in Congress have greatly impacted Long Island.
“President Obama and our partners in Congress were diligent in securing federal stimulus funds that will bolster our transportation infrastructure and create jobs in communities on Long Island,” Paterson said in a press release.
“Investing in Long Island’s aging roadways is a win-win. Not only will these funds create jobs and help repair Long Island’s roads,” said it will ease traffic congestion and greatly improve the safety of travelers,” he said.
Schumer said that by funding such projects as the ARRA, transportation is ensured not only across the island, but across the entire country as well.
The contract was awarded to New York Paving Inc. of Old Bethpage with repairs to the concrete pavement roadways ranging from crack sealing to slab replacements.
Under the project repairs will be done on the following roadways: the Sagtikos State Parkway (between the Southern State Parkway and the Long Island Expressway); the Ocean Parkway (between the toll plaza at Captree State Park and Zachs Bay); the Meadowbrook State Parkway (between the Babylon and Hempstead Turnpike); and the ramps of the Southern State Parkway at the Meadowbrook State Parkway and Peninsula Boulevard.
Paterson recently certified the project for economic recovery funding. Long Island is estimated to receive a total of $154 million in stimulus project funding for road and bridge projects in the future. The area is expected to receive $230 million this year alone for upgrades to all state highways and bridges. Paterson says the projects should be completed by next spring.
The governor’s office says about 40 people will work on the repairs, being conducted by Bethpage-based New York Paving Inc. The company didn’t immediately return an after-hours telephone message.
