The New York State Department of Transportation’s (NYSDOT) $25 million construction project to repave ten miles of the Long Island Expressway/I495 (LIE) between Sunnyside Boulevard (Exit 46) and Willis Avenue (Exit 37) resumes tonight, Wednesday night May 13, 2015. All westbound LIE mainline travel lanes and entrance ramps on shorter sections within the project area will be closed each night, Monday through Friday between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., weather permitting. All westbound LIE traffic will be detoured using the LIE North Service Road and motorists should follow the posted detour and speed limit signs throughout the construction area and detour. These nightly westbound closures are expected to continue through the summer. However, the LIE mainline will remain open Friday and Sunday of Memorial and Fourth of July weekends for the benefit of holiday travelers.
In fall 2014 before the harsh winter weather set in, the most deteriorated eastbound sections of the LIE between Willis Avenue and Wheatley Road and between the NY135/Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway and Northern State Parkway were repaved. The eastbound LIE Mainline travel lanes were recently completed. The top layer of the worn, distressed pavement is being removed then replaced with new asphalt and fresh pavement markings, as well as upgrading radar traffic detectors and loops. When completed, these pavement repairs will improve motorists’ safety and help maintain the integrity of Long Island Expressway from Plainview to Roslyn Heights to. The project is being performed by Intercounty Paving Associates, LLC of Hicksville, NY. Local officials, businesses and emergency service providers have been notified about this repaving project.
Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes or allow extra time as they will experience delays. Drivers who cannot use alternate routes are reminded to drive carefully through the work zone for their safety as well as the safety of the highway work crew. As with most road and bridge projects, this construction work may be cancelled, postponed, or prolonged due to inclement weather. For 24/7 up-to-date traffic and travel information, motorists should call 511 or visit www.511NY.org. In addition, travel information can be obtained from the INFORM Transportation Management Center cameras at www.INFORMNY.com and on their hand held communication devices at www.INFORMNY.mobi.
