A $17.7 million project that restored a six-mile stretch of the Long Island Expressway (Interstate 495) between Exit 67 (Yaphank Avenue) and Exit 69 (Wading River Road) in the Town of Brookhaven has been completed.
The project, which began in the fall of 2023, removed and replaced deteriorated sections of the concrete road surface, enhancing safety and easing travel along one of Long Island’s busiest commuter arteries. Additional targeted repairs were made to the road surface to further improve rideability on this stretch of the roadway.
“The Long Island Expressway is vital to the flow of people and commerce on Long Island and we are committed to making the necessary investments to ensure that it continues to serve the needs of residents, visitors and commuters for many years to come,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “These concrete repairs will give motorists a smoother ride along a key stretch of the highway while also making it better able to withstand the impacts of severe weather.”
The project replaced deteriorated sections of concrete — which were installed during the highway’s construction in the late 1960s and early 1970s — with new, high-strength concrete, designed to better withstand heavy daily traffic and seasonal temperature fluctuations.
Crews also sealed cracks and pavement joints, restored the shoulders where needed, and installed new reflective pavement markings to extend the durability of the six-mile stretch of highway and to ensure a more comfortable driving experience. The repairs will also reduce future maintenance needs.
To minimize impacts to travelers, much of the work was staged during off-peak and overnight hours, consistent with New York’s Drivers First Initiative.
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “These improvements to the Long Island Expressway will create stronger, more durable road surface and also give motorists a more pleasurable journey as they travel along this vital roadway.”
When the people speak, it’s important that we listen,” said State Senator Dean Murray (R-Medford). “This particular stretch of the Long Island Expressway has been the subject of many a phone call and many emails to my office. I’m sure that we now have some very happy commuters that travel through that area on a daily basis.”
Suffolk County Executive Edward Romaine added, “Our roads are in desperate need of attention, and this project is an important example of the improvements that need to be made across Suffolk County.”
“We appreciated the repair work done to make the Long Island Expressway safer. Investments in our aging transportation infrastructure are necessary to keep our residents safe,” Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico said.