Work Begins On $6.8M Upgrades To Wantagh State Parkway: DOT

WANTAGH, NY. — The New York State Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that work had begun on an almost $7 million upgrade to the Wantagh State Parkway, a project that DOT officials said will create extra space and improve traffic flow when entering and exiting the parkway.

The DOT said the project will modify a pair of ramps on the interchange at the intersection of Wantagh State Parkway and Old Country Road in an effort to reduce the frequency with which traffic queues on the parkway. Both ramps, the DOT said, are almost 90 years-old and no longer meet modern design standards. Additionally, the DOT said there will be new drainage infrastructure added along the ramps to increase the road's resilience to severe weather events. Finally, there will be new curb ramps, guide rails and pedestrian facilities at the highway ramps' intersection with Old Country Road.

“Thanks to Governor Hochul’s unwavering commitment to build back our infrastructure, New York State is creating a 21st century transportation network that will keep or communities connected and prosperous,” DOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said. “These improvements to the Old Country Road interchange of the Wantagh State Parkway will make it easier to exit and enter the highway and improve mobility for tens of thousands of Long Island drivers who travel along this busy artery every day."

Both ramps were expected to remain open during construction, officials said, which is expected to finish next summer.

"Long Island depends on safe, reliable roadways to ensure smooth travel for thousands of commuters, yet outdated infrastructure in some of our busiest areas can create congestion that slows families and workers alike," State Senator Siela Bynoe said. "As a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, I have fought for dedicated funding to address these long-standing needs, support programs that strengthen our transportation network, and protect the roads Long Islanders rely on — all to help reduce traffic and make daily travel smoother. I am pleased to see this critical work moving forward at the Wantagh Parkway interchange. This project will expand and modernize the ramps, improve traffic flow, and make our roads safer for the families, workers, and visitors who rely on them every day."