ALBANY –
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced today the completion of a $17.7 million project that restored a six-mile stretch of the Long Island Expressway (Interstate 495) between Exit 67 (Yaphank Avenue) and Exit 69 (Wading River Road) in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County.
The project, which began in the fall of 2023, removed and replaced deteriorated sections of the concrete road surface, enhancing safety and easing travel along one of Long Island’s busiest commuter arteries. Additional targeted repairs were made to the road surface to further improve rideability on this stretch of the roadway.
“The Long Island Expressway is vital to the flow of people and commerce on Long Island and we are committed to making the necessary investments to ensure that it continues to serve the needs of residents, visitors and commuters for many years to come”, Governor Hochul said.“These concrete repairs will give motorists a smoother ride along a key stretch of the highway while also making it better able to withstand the impacts of severe weather”.
According to a press release by the Governor’s office, the project replaced deteriorated sections of concrete — which were installed during the highway’s construction in the late 1960s and early 1970s — with new, high-strength concrete, designed to better withstand heavy daily traffic and seasonal temperature fluctuations. Crews also sealed cracks and pavement joints, restored the shoulders where needed, and installed new reflective pavement markings to extend the durability of the six-mile stretch of highway and to ensure a more comfortable driving experience. The repairs will also reduce future maintenance needs.
To minimize impacts to travelers, much of the work was staged during off-peak and overnight hours, consistent with New York’s Drivers First Initiative.
“NYSDOT, under the leadership of Governor Hochul, continues to make historic investments in infrastructure that connect communities, improve quality of life and fuel our economy forward. These improvements to the Long Island Expressway will create stronger, more durable road surface and also give motorists a more pleasurable journey as they travel along this vital roadway”, stressed New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez.
