Governor Hochul Announces Start of $83 Million Safety Enhancement Project on Section of Eastbound Long Island Expressway in Queens

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that construction has begun on an $83 million project in Queens to enhance traffic flow and reduce congestion on the eastbound Long Island Expressway (I-495) between the entrance ramp from the southbound Clearview Expressway to the Exit 29 ramp to Springfield Boulevard. The project will construct a new auxiliary lane, reconstruct two entrance ramps and one exit ramp, and improve the acceleration and deceleration lanes within the project limits. This is part of the FY 2023 Enacted Budget's record $32.8 billion, five-year DOT Capital Plan to improve the State's roads, bridges, airports, rail facilities, ports, and other transit systems.

"Safety is a top priority for our transportation infrastructure, which is why we are investing in these critical enhancements along the Long Island Expressway," Governor Hochul said. "We remain laser-focused on making our infrastructure safer and more efficient, and investing in infrastructure projects like this will ensure our communities and transportation networks across the state are well-connected. Motorists on this busy section of the highway have historically experienced heavy congestion and delays, and this project will help ease travel to the benefit of local residents and everyone who uses this critical corridor."

The new auxiliary lane, which is being constructed adjacent to the three-lane main highway, will ease lane changing maneuvers by providing a continuous lane for traffic entering and exiting the eastbound Long Island Expressway between southbound Clearview Expressway and Springfield Boulevard.

Alongside the auxiliary lane, two consecutive entrance ramps (from northbound Clearview Expressway and from Horace Harding Expressway at 212th Street) and one exit ramp (to Springfield Boulevard) will be realigned, the ramps' acceleration and deceleration lanes will be extended, and the distance between the entrance ramp from Horace Harding Expressway at 212th Street and the exit ramp to Springfield Boulevard will be increased. The addition of the auxiliary lane, together with the ramp modifications, will improve traffic flow and eliminate the need for two yield signs currently located at the entrance ramp from the northbound Clearview Expressway and the entrance ramp from Horace Harding Expressway at 212th Street.

The project will also include the construction of noise barriers along the eastbound and westbound Long Island Expressway within the project limits, with a total noise barrier length of 6,500 feet that will reduce traffic noise for more than 300 homes.

Additionally, the project will replace the bridge carrying Oceania Street in Bayside over the eastbound and westbound Long Island Expressway to accommodate the new eastbound auxiliary lane below. Exclusive left-turn lanes will also be constructed on the bridge at both the northbound and southbound intersections with Horace Harding Expressway, which will increase the storage capacity for left-turning vehicles in both directions. The project will install a new pavement surface, new striping, new signage, and new traffic signals that will include optimized signal timings to reduce delays and backup for the left-turning vehicles at the Oceania Street and Horace Harding Expressway intersections.

The new bridge will also provide enhanced safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. New sidewalks, which will be built on both the east and west sides of the bridge, will accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. A road safety feature called rumble strips (which produce perceptible vibrations) will be installed within the sidewalks to separate pedestrians and bicyclists.

Other benefits include the reconstruction of accessible curb ramps in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act at both intersections of Oceania Street with Horace Harding Expressway and the installation of Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS), which communicate information about the "Walk" and "Don't Walk" cycles in a non-visual form for visually-impaired pedestrians. The project will upgrade the existing lighting system to install new LED lighting on and beneath the bridge deck for better visibility. The existing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) within the project limits will also be upgraded.

Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, "Under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York State is making critical investments in infrastructure that enhance safety and support the continued growth of our economy. This much-needed project further demonstrates our commitment to building a resilient transportation network that benefits motorists, pedestrians and cyclists - while advancing the mobility of people and the movement of commerce."

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said, "This construction project will significantly improve traffic flow on these busy roadways. Both cars and trucks come across the bridge and use the Clearview and the LIE to access eastern Queens and Long Island. I thank Governor Hochul for this significant investment in our infrastructure and the Department of Transportation for their hard work to improve traffic safety."

State Senator John Liu said, "Transportation options are extremely limited for northeast Queens commuters, which leads to frustrating traffic congestion on major arteries like the Long Island Expressway. Upgrading and enhancing this essential thoroughfare will help to relieve bottlenecks and help reduce travel times for drivers."

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. said, "These safety enhancements on the Long Island Expressway are an important step forward in the ongoing improvement of our borough's transportation infrastructure. Motorists who use the LIE will soon experience safer and faster rides thanks to these enhancements. I thank Governor Kathy Hochul and State Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez for making this work a priority."

Council Member Linda Lee said, "As someone who travels along the Long Island Expressway every day, I have seen firsthand how its aging infrastructure has been a frequent cause of congestion and dangerous car collisions, particularly along its eastbound lanes. I am thrilled that Governor Kathy Hochul continues investing to modernize our local roads and highways to improve safety for the motorists and pedestrians of Eastern Queens, while also increasing traffic flow along one of our City's busiest, and vital roadways."

Council Member Sandra Ung said, "Any project to help ease congestion is good news for people who live in northeast Queens and use the Long Island Expressway to commute to work or get to leisure activities in Nassau County. But the replacement of the bridge over the LIE at Oceania Street is also good news for pedestrians and bicyclists from my district who use and enjoy nearby Cunningham Park. I want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul for spearheading this project to improve the quality of life for residents in my district."