Construction On Rte. 347 - A Huge Investment By NYS

By Dana Klosner

westbound traffic on Rte. 347 during constructionIf you live in Smithtown you probably have noticed the construction project on NY Route 347 between Route 111 and Mt. Pleasant Road. The project is the second in a series of NY Route 347 corridor projects planned to improve safety for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians and to reduce travel delays. According to a 2013 press release from Governor Cuomo, the plan calls for transforming NY Route 347 into a modified boulevard and suburban greenway for 15 miles through Smithtown, Islip and Brookhaven.

This is a big project requiring an investment in time and money. According to the Governor’s press release, the project, between NY Route 111 and Mount Pleasant Road, is the largest transportation design-built project on Long Island. 

The history of the project is simple.

The current features of NY 347 are inadequate to handle the significant volumes of motorists and trucks that now use the roadway, which was constructed in the 1960, according to Eileen W. Peters, Public Information Officer for NYS Department of Transportation Long Island, Region 10. In 1969, an average of 48,000 vehicles per day used NY Route 347. Presently there are an estimated 71,000 vehicles per day using this road.

When the stretch between NY Route 111 and Mt. Pleasant Road is completed there will be three full travel lanes in each direction, a multi-use “greenway” for pedestrians and bicyclists, a planted, decorative center median, new high visibility crosswalks, signals and pedestrian countdown timers and LED traffic signals, according to NYSDOT Region 10.  

sound barrier (wall)The first project between the NY Routes 454/347 split and NY Route 111 was completed last year. Work already completed on this second project between NY Route 111 and Mt. Pleasant Road includes the completion of about 50% of the drainage improvement work, clearing of vegetation, relocation of utilities, substantial installation work of sound walls on the north side, some curb work and sound wall construction begun on the south side.

The constuction of sound walls from Rte. 111 to Mt. Pleasant Rd. on the North and South sides has begun.  Eastbound (south side) sound walls end at Plaisted Avenue, and the westbound (north side) sound walls end just west of Mt. Pleasant Rd. and the 7-11 store.

Still to be done includes road widening, installation of center medians similar to the section to the west, construction of the greenway, landscaping, construction of the shared-use path on the south side and sidewalks on the north side, installation of new bio-retention basins on the south side and a “green stop” resting area similar to the section to the west.

To minimize the impact on commuters, lane closures are permitted only at night and during off-peak, midday hours. Access to business is being maintained. 

All of this will cost $30.5 million and will be completed in about one more year.