Ceremonial Check For $5M To Brookhaven For Highway Projects Includes $2.5M For Harbor Road Restoration

STONY BROOK, NY — A ceremonial check for $5 million was presented last week to Brookhaven officials to support the resurfacing of deteriorating roadways, which includes $2.5 million for the full restoration of storm-ravaged Harbor Road in Stony Brook, U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota's office said.

The funding, secured by LaLota through the Fiscal Year 2026 community project funding process, helped move the long-stalled project forward while easing the burden of rising road repair costs for the town.

The funds were secured in February.

The Harbor Road restoration addresses damage sustained from catastrophic flooding during an August 2024 storm that left the roadway torn apart and the surrounding area in "critical need of full rehabilitation," LaLota's office said.

The $2.5 million of the total will go toward restoring the roadbed, and resurfacing Harbor Road, while the remaining funds will go toward resurfacing and paving, according to LaLota's office.

Harbor Road's collapse cuts residents off from essential services and forces emergency responders to take longer, less efficient routes, LaLota's office said.

The project will restore safe, reliable access for residents, school buses, and first responders while also improving driving conditions across Brookhaven, reducing accident risks from failing pavement, and strengthening long-term infrastructure resilience ahead of future storm events, according to LaLota's office.

LaLota said he understands "how difficult it is for towns to keep up with aging infrastructure and rising construction costs while still protecting taxpayers."

"That’s exactly why I fought to secure this $5 million investment for Brookhaven," he said. "It helps move the long-awaited Harbor Road restoration project forward, while also giving the Town resources to improve roads in communities across Brookhaven."

"Long Islanders pay too much in taxes to drive on deteriorating roads and wait years for critical repairs," he said.

"I’m proud to deliver federal dollars back home for projects that directly improve safety, quality of life, and day-to-day reliability for residents."

Town Supervisor Dan Panico said that when he and Highways Superintendent Dan Losquadro reached out to LaLota, "he was ready to deliver."

"This $5 million grant, $2.5 million of which will go toward the Harbor Road restoration project, makes a world of difference," he said.

Losquadro said the additional $2.5 million going to Brookhaven roads throughout the town "is critically important."

"Over the past several years, we have seen a 30 percent increase in construction costs," he said. "Long gone are the days of doing more with less. We have not seen a 30 percent increase in state funding; we've barely seen a 10 percent increase. This $2.5 million, not only for the Harbor Road project but for our local roads, is going to allow us to keep our paving schedule on pace and complete the full scope of work we want to do every year.”