Drivers May Experience Minor Delays on County Road 39 Due to Upcoming Blinking Light Project

SOUTHAMPTON, NY - Motorists on County 39 might soon experience some minor delays due to an upcoming blinking light project.

According to Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, drivers may experience additional minor delays traveling east next week on Sunrise Highway, Country Road 39 and Montauk Highway through Southampton Town as Suffolk County Department of Public Works engineers begin a traffic study.

The data collection phase will run April 12 to 14 from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The study, he said, is being done in anticipation of the blinking light project that is slated to kick off on April 19. The data collection phase of the project will direct crews to travel in vehicles to measure travel time during a normal morning commute. Two vehicles will travel east on Sunrise Highway from the Shinnecock Canal, then continue on County Road 39 to the end where it meets with Montauk Highway.

During that time, the DPW will also conduct travel runs on Montauk Highway through Hampton Bays from New York State Route 24, or Flanders Road, to the Shinnecock Canal. Two vehicles will travel that route, Schneiderman said.

The study will be used to compare travel times during the week of April 11th against travel times collected during the week of April 18 when the blinking light project along County Road 39 is underway.

The blinking light pilot project will run April 19 to 21, when, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. the traffic light at Tuckahoe Road will be turned to a blinking light.

During this time, motorists will not be permitted to make a lefthand turn onto County Road 39 from Tuckahoe Road heading north.

Motorists traveling south on Tuckahoe Road will not be permitted to make a lefthand turn to travel east on County Road 39.

Motorists traveling west on County Road 39 will also be prohibited from making a lefthand turn onto Tuckahoe south. Through traffic on Tuckahoe Road across County Road 39 will also be prohibited.

The traffic study is being conducted to help engineers find a more permanent solution to the traffic delays experienced along County Road 39 each spring, the supervisor said.