The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has successfully completed the $27m modernisation project at Exit 53 on the Long Island Expressway (LIE) in Suffolk County, US.
The upgrade includes two new exit ramps to Crooked Hill Road, facilitating smoother travel and direct access to local businesses and destinations.
This change is expected to ease traffic flow and reduce the need for detours via congested local roads.
New York governor Kathy Hochul said: “The transformation of the Exit 53 interchange will make the commute to and from work easier for thousands of motorists who travel these roadways every day and also improve access to many of Long Island’s most popular stores, restaurants, schools and parks, which will boost our economy, reduce stress and improve quality of life.”
In addition, the project has improved connections between the LIE and the Sagtikos State Parkway.
A new detection system has been added, aiming to prevent over-height vehicles from entering the parkway, addressing a longstanding safety concern.
The reconstructed interchange, straddling the towns of Islip and Smithtown, now offers direct routes to sites such as Brentwood State Park and Suffolk County Community College, among others.
New signage and message boards have also been installed to guide drivers effectively.
The project's scope extended to pedestrian safety and accessibility, with new traffic signals and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant features at ramp termini.
On the Sagtikos State Parkway, extended lanes and additional travel lanes at key points aim to boost safety and mobility for merging traffic.
A second lane was added to the ramp from the eastbound LIE to the southbound parkway.
Additionally, a third lane was extended for merging traffic onto the southbound parkway up to the G Road bridge, along with upgrades at Exit S2.
The project also included the expansion and reconditioning of a recharge basin to improve water filtration and prevent blockages.
The installation of more than a mile of new drainage pipes prepares the area for potential increases in rainfall.
