September start date anticipated for project
The final pieces are in place for Operation Main Street, a streetscaping project in New Hyde Park, to commence construction after the state Department of Transportation approved a $1.46 million bid from Bohemia-based J Anthony Enterprises. The competing bid came from Old Bethpage’s New York Paving at $1.527 million.
Village trustee Donald Barbieri met with DOT reps recently to discuss construction. He anticipates work will begin some time in September.
The project includes rounded corners that would extend slightly into the roadway at locations yet to be determined, along with installation of medians with plantings and a water supply to maintain the plantings. The idea for the plan was to set up modern traffic calming features that create a more pedestrian friendly and safer environment, while providing a downtown appeal for the shopping district.
After contracts are signed, J Anthony will have four months to complete the bulk of the work, according to village officials. Saratoga Associates of Manhattan designed the plan.
The project hit a snag in March because of a pending agreement with Verizon and KeySpan to move utility lines.
Benches will be installed on sidewalks, which would be paved with the same rustic red brickwork already in place in some parts of the road near the intersection of Jericho Turnpike and Lakeville Road.
The village will coordinate with the state in the final phases of the separate, $21.1 million Jericho Turnpike project. Repaving of the turnpike is now complete up to Herricks Road.
The project started at the New York City border to Glen Cove Road.
“The DOT and engineers that we’ve hired are going to oversee the last leg of the Jericho Turnpike repaving project,” Barbieri said. “Based upon that meeting, we believe
[Operation Main Street] work will commence in the first week in September”
New Hyde Park faced a recent hurdle when the DOT informed the village that old environmental reports needed to be updated before beginning the bid process. The state required the board to change project plans three times and amend a resolution it had previously passed regarding federal reimbursement, village officials said. The DOT did not return calls for comment.
Barbieri said he hopes for the project to conclude by December. The worst-case scenario, according to Barbieri, is that J Anthony would complete work on plantings in Spring 2014.
“I’m a little disappointed that we weren’t able to coordinate the project a bit better with the state, where one came before the other,” Barbier said. “But, we’re going to work our way through it. I’m sure the end product will be something everyone in New Hyde Park will enjoy.”
Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy originally secured a federal grant (about $1.6 million) for the village through a federal transportation appropriation and community block grant funds for the project. McCarthy wrote to the chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in 2009 pushing for the project.
