Plans Advance For New Sunrise Highway Interchange At Barnes Road

MASTIC, NY — Plans are moving forward for a new Sunrise Highway interchange at Barnes Road in Mastic/Moriches, officials said.

In December, New York State Senator Ken LaValle and State Assemblyman Fred Thiele announced that they'd secured a $5 million appropriation in the 2017 state budget to construct the new interchange; the State Department of Transportation is now moving forward with the project, they said.

A consultant will prepare the necessary design approval document, which will study potential environmental impacts and right of way issues associated with the project, officials said.

Design approval is anticipated for 2019, with the final design to be completed in 2020. Construction would begin in 2021, lawmakers aid.

The escalating issue of excessive traffic congestion and its impacts has been a longstanding problem for the 50,000 residents living in Mastic, Mastic Beach, and Shirley areas, lawmakers said; the peninsula has only one access to the Sunrise Highway at the William Floyd Parkway.

According to a federally funded study conducted by Brookhaven Town in 2010 addressing coastal evacuation from the tri-hamlet area in case of an emergency, it was recommended that a new access onto Sunrise Highway at Barnes Road would significantly improve evacuation traffic operations, lawmakers said.

In 2011, at the request of the State Legislature, the New York State DOT also continued to study traffic congestion and safety issues on Sunrise Highway for 11.5 miles between Route 112 to Wading River Road; the state study also recommended the construction of a new interchange at Barnes Road.

"It's critically important for the community that this interchange is improved to allow for smoother transportation," LaValle said. "We worked diligently to secure the state funding necessary for the changes, and I am pleased that the NYS Department of Transportation is now moving to mitigate the congestion as soon as possible. "

Added Thiele: "Traffic congestion on the Mastic, Mastic Beach, Shirley peninsula has been worsening for decades. This congestion adversely affects the economic health of the community, public safety, and every day travel. In an emergency, such as Superstorm Sandy, existing infrastructure would be inadequate for necessary evacuations. The community has been clamoring for a solution to the problem."

Town and state studies dating back to 2010 recommended the interchange, Thiele said, but unfortunately, funding was not available.

He added that lawmakers would ensure that the public was fully engaged in the project, with concerns addressed.

According to Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine: "On any given day, the traffic congestion at Sunrise Highway, William Floyd Parkway and Montauk Highway creates a very real safety hazard. Add to that the LIRR crossing and you've got the potential for disaster in the event of an emergency. The residents of the tri-hamlet community can now breathe a little easier knowing that soon their access to Sunrise Highway will be greatly improved."

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