County Would Use Parcel for Its Roadway Improvement Project
By Hank Russell
This election season, East Hampton Town residents will get to decide whether or not a parcel of land should be under the ownership of Suffolk County, which would use the land as part of its roadway improvement project.
Proposition 3, if it passes, would allow Suffolk County to take a triangle-shaped parcel of land located at the intersection of County Roads 40 and 41 (also known as Three Mile Harbor Road and Springs-Fireplace Road) and create a roadway that, according to the text on the ballot, “will address longstanding traffic delays and public safety issues.” Some of the improvements would include a roundabout at the intersection, a traffic light, or other options. Since this is a county-funded project on two county roads, the Town Board does not have a say in what the improvements should be.
The project is being engineered to achieve the following goals to improve various aspects within the corridor:
- Resurface the roadway and fix the pavement
- Create a new curb and sidewalk on both sides of the roadway, making the corridor more pedestrian friendly
- Upgrade existing pedestrian facilities to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Install bike lanes on both sides of the roadway between Springs Fireplace Road and Copeces Lane
- Repair and upgrade the existing drainage system
- Improve the traffic signal at Cedar Street and Collins Avenue
- Replace traffic signage and pavement markings
When the Suffolk County Department of Public Works (SCDPW) held an informational meeting in May 2024 to share the preliminary engineering design it drew a crowd of approximately 90 Town residents. The majority of those in attendance stressed the urgent need for improvements at the intersection of CR 40 and 41 to enhance public safety, line of sight, and traffic flow and were advocating for a roundabout at that intersection.
Following the meeting, the Town Board reached out to its New York State representatives regarding the transfer of the parkland to the county. In June, Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele (D-Sag Harbor) and State Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) passed a bill allowing the transfer of ownership, which they deemed necessary for a potential roadway improvement project. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the bill in July.
The Town Board has held a public hearing on the proposition and passed a resolution placing this referendum on your ballot. This month, the Town Board passed a resolution removing the parcel’s status as a Nature Preserve, as the parcel did not meet any of the eight criteria for Nature Preserve status. The Town has also been actively engaging with residents and collaborating with SCDPW to gather input and address community concerns.
If the referendum does not pass, according to the town, Suffolk County will need to explore alternative strategies to address the ongoing traffic and safety concerns within the confines of the current intersection.
Early voting begins on October 26. Election Day is November 5.