The Village of Westbury held its second community informational meeting on the Ellison Avenue bridge replacement project last Thursday evening, where representatives from the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) joined village board members in hearing from residents and delivering an overview presentation.
While Mayor Peter Cavallaro wasn’t able to attend due to a last minute conflict, and Deputy Mayor Joan Boes is currently on vacation, trustee Steve Corte spoke on the board’s behalf, and William Mello, senior building inspector for the village, reviewed the project’s details and projections.
According to the MTA, the bridge was built in 1896 as an overpass, and then rebuilt in 1941 as a two-lane roadway bridge with pedestrian sidewalks on both sides. The roadway deck of the bridge is in poor condition and in need of replacement.
As stated by village officials, the objective is a complete design and construction of a new roadway bridge at Ellison Avenue. The project is to be completed by Farmingdale-based Posillico Civil Inc., and Babylon-based Greeman-Pederson Inc.
Corte explained that the LIRR is funding and financing the project, and no cost will be submitted to the village.
Chief Program Officer for LIRR Richard Oakley said that they are “very comfortable” with the $39 million dollar plan that is in place for the project.
The project is expected to take one year to complete, and according to a timeline provided by Mello, the mobilization, which includes utility relocation, work trailer(s), site fencing and temporary signage, is scheduled to begin in March.
The bridge will be single span, and has been designed to meet current road conditions, including elevations, to have minimal negative impacts on neighboring properties. Sheet piling work is scheduled to take place between early and mid April, and notifications will be sent out to residents.
Ellison Avenue closure to all but local traffic will begin in April, and while the village is still working with the LIRR and the contractor to complete a road closure plan, no closures of any side streets are expected.
Detour signage will be placed along Jericho Turnpike, Old Country Road, Maple Avenue and Westbury Avenue —directing all traffic away from Ellison Avenue. Northbound traffic will detour at Old Country Road east to Post Avenue or west to Cherry Lane, and southbound traffic must detour at Maple Avenue/Westbury Avenue east to Post Avenue or west to Cherry Lane.
Disruption of service by LIRR is slated for May 16 and 17 for the bridge removal, and either October 17 and 18 or 24 and 25 for the bridge replacement. Scheduled hours of work are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday, with the exception of the weekend of May 15 and a weekend in late October.
While the meeting lasted under an hour, residents did express concern over potential traffic and safety issues.
Jose Aguilar, a resident of Earl Street, which is directly off Ellison Avenue, was joined by a group of other residents in bringing up the potential for vehicles speeding down side roads while navigating around detours.
Pointing out that Earl Street has no sidewalks, Aguilar said the only option for children is to walk along the street, and submitted a petition signed by 32 Earl Street residents, totaling to an estimated 26 houses, requesting that the street be closed down for the project’s duration.
“We have three kids, and their lives are in danger every day,” Aguilar said, requesting that measures such as speed bumps be taken.
Corte responded by saying the village has had conversations with a group of residents from Earl Street, and that Mayor Cavallaro has acknowledged that it’s a sensitive spot and will be monitored on a daily basis.
“We realize that Earl Street is going to be an issue, and we will make any changes necessary to ensure there are no problems and safety hazards,” Corte said.
Workforce parking will be contained within the construction site, and emergency service coordination will be underway.
“The storage of materials and equipment will be limited to the site whenever possible,” Mello said. “All measures will be taken to limit any negative impacts to the neighboring residents.”
The bridge will aesthetically replicate the other bridges within the village, with stone walls and iron fencing.
Another information meeting on the bridge will be held March 25 at Carle Place High School at 8 p.m.
