Construction of the new Hicksville Parking Facility began Jan. 18 and, according to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, the project should be complete by March 2011.
The new structure will have two levels below ground, one at grade level and one level above ground and will park approximately 1,400 vehicles – the same as the previous facility. Venditto noted that the decision to rebuild on the site of the demolished parking facility was made only after the town explored other potential locations and considered suggestions and concerns from residents, which ranged from don’t build anything to build even bigger. He added that many suggestions from residents were incorporated into the final design.
The $33,083,000 contract for construction was awarded to Peter Scalamandre & Sons, Inc.; the company has built a number of parking structures, including Roosevelt Field, Stony Brook University and at Kennedy Airport’s Jet Blue Terminal as well as power plants, correctional facilities, offices, sewerage treatment plants and roadways.
During construction, the contractor has agreed to take the following steps to address possible impacts to the surrounding neighborhood:
Hours of Construction
Hours of construction will be limited to 8.5 hours a day, including a half hour for lunch, five days a week. There will be no work on the following dates in 2010: Monday, Feb. 15 – Presidents Day; Monday, May 31 – Memorial Day; Monday, July 5 – Independence Day; Monday, Sept. 6 – Labor Day; Thursday, Nov. 25 –Thanksgiving; Friday, Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve; and Friday, Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve.
Vibration Control
Seismic monitors will be placed around the site. When vibration exceeds recommended standards, all work will stop and not proceed until the vibration issue has been addressed.
Dust Abatement
Watering trucks will be used regularly when weather and work conditions warrants to keep dust from rising.
Truck Traffic
On Duffy Avenue, the contractor has been directed not to allow trucks to travel west of the project site on Duffy Avenue. The contractor will be using the right-turn lane on Duffy Avenue for vehicles between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., and it will be properly barricaded.
Roadway Sweeping
Streets in the immediate vicinity of the project will be swept as needed.
The Town’s Project Manager Louis J. Miritello will be available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. to address any concerns or questions. Miritello can be reached at 677-5350. After hours and on weekends, call the Department of Public Safety at the aforementioned number; the people who answer are prepared to respond appropriately to any situation and can reach specialized personnel, if necessary.
Alternative Parking and Shuttle Bus Schedule
To accommodate commuters while construction of the new garage takes place, the town will continue to provide parking at the Broadway Mall, located on the west side of Broadway (Routes 106/107) and the Sears parking lot, located on the east side of Broadway (Routes 106/107) in Hicksville.
In addition, the town has continued to provide the use of shuttle buses, which operate to and from the Broadway Mall and Sears during peak commuter hours. (Parking/shuttle bus use at Broadway Mall is available from 5 to 7:30 a.m. and 4 to 9 p.m.; parking/shuttle bus use at Sears is available from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 9 p.m.). Parking is available Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. A Town of Oyster Bay parking permit is required to use the commuter parking areas at both the Broadway Mall and Sears.
In addition to the parking spaces secured at Broadway Mall and Sears, the Town has a number of other existing parking facilities in downtown Hicksville that offer commuter parking in designated spaces. A Town of Oyster Bay Parking Permit is required to park in those facilities, which are listed on the town’s website.
Permit-holding commuters planning to park after 7:30 a.m. should report directly to the designated lot behind the Sears Auto Center. If arriving before 7:30 a.m., residents may continue to park at the Broadway Mall Monday through Friday. There are no shuttle buses on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays.
Shuttle buses run Monday through Friday from 5 to 7:30 a.m. at the Broadway Mall; 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Sears; and 4 to 9 p.m. to both the Broadway Mall and Sears.
In addition to the Broadway Mall and Sears parking lots, there are a number of other parking facilities in downtown Hicksville that offer parking spaces for residents with a Town of Oyster Bay Parking Permit. Please note that all regular parking restrictions in the following lots will be enforced:
• H-2 north side of LIRR, south side of West Barclay Street, west of Newbridge Road
• H-5 north side of LIRR, south side of West Barclay Street, between Newbridge Road and Jerusalem Avenue
• H-6 north side of LIRR between Broadway and Jerusalem Avenue
• H-9 East Marie Street opposite the Hicksville Fire Department
• H-10 north side of West Marie Street, east of Jerusalem Avenue
• H-11 south side of East Barclay Street and north side of East Marie Street, east of Broadway
• H-12 at intersection of East Marie and East Nicholai streets
• H-13 at intersection of Bay Avenue and Heitz Place
• H-14 between north side of East Marie Street and south side of Heitz Place
• H-16 south side of West Barclay Street, north side of LIRR, west of Newbridge Road
• H-17 north side of West Barclay Street between Strong and Maple streets
• H-18 south side of West Barclay Street, north side of LIRR, west of Newbridge Road
• H-19 north side of West Barclay Street and Wyckoff Avenue, north side of LIRR, west of Newbridge Road.
