From ABC7 New York · · 1m 20s
Suffolk officials push Sunrise Highway widening
A daily bottleneck on Sunrise Highway has Suffolk officials calling for a third lane before traffic gets worse.
In brief
A daily bottleneck on Sunrise Highway has Suffolk officials calling for a third lane before traffic gets worse. Officials want the state to study a 10.5-mile widening of Sunrise Highway because congestion is slowing drivers and emergency crews now, with more traffic expected soon. Originally reported by ABC7 New York.
A bottleneck slows Suffolk
Officials say Sunrise Highway backs up between Patchogue and Moriches because it drops from three lanes to two in both directions.
Emergency crews get stuck
North Patchogue Assistant Fire Chief Daniel Glenn said rush-hour traffic can leave responders crawling when they need to reach emergencies fast.
“I'm only going 5 miles an hour”
A third lane is proposed
State Sen. Dean Murray and Suffolk officials want Sunrise Highway widened to three lanes from Exit 53 to Exit 59, between Route 112 and Wading River Road.
Growth changed the commute
Murray said the old summer Friday traffic has become an everyday problem as the area has grown.
“that's every day now”
Hospital traffic may rise
Officials pointed to NYU Langone Hospital-Suffolk's planned $650 million expansion, saying a hospital that already treats about 77,000 patients will draw more trips.
Next step is a study
Supporters want the project in the state DOT's five-year plan. There is no cost estimate yet for the proposed 10.5-mile expansion.
The takeaway
Officials want the state to study a 10.5-mile widening of Sunrise Highway because congestion is slowing drivers and emergency crews now, with more traffic expected soon.
