Community Watchdog

Q. The LIRR crossing on Oakwood Road in Huntington is so uneven the cars go around it to avoid the raised pavement on the tracks. It's just a question of time before one car swerves into another car. I have been after people since last year to get it fixed. I wrote the town and county and learned it's the LIRR's responsibility. I left a message a few weeks ago at the railroad and they never called.
Jean Kouwenhoven, Huntington

A. Drivers won't have to do any more pothole dodging at the Oakwood Road crossing.

Workers finished overhauling the roadway by the tracks on Tuesday, using 20 tons of new asphalt, LIRR spokesman Sam Zambuto said.

After we called the railroad about the problem, the crossing was reinspected. Zambuto said that inspection confirmed what the railroad already knew -- the crossing needed help.

Previous inspections had put the Oakwood Road crossing on the railroad's repair radar, although the LIRR did not perceive a "current hazard,” Zambuto said.

"The crossing needs asphalt work and that was something we were planning to do,” Zambuto said before the repair work began on Nov. 21.

The asphalt on both sides of the tracks was replaced across all four traffic lanes. Repairs were also made to the rubberized crossing panels for smoother driving over the tracks. Oakwood Road is one of 290 street-level train crossings within the LIRR system that are regularly inspected, Zambuto said.

Anyone with a problem involving an LIRR crossing should call Public Affairs at 718-558-8228. Complaints can be emailed by visiting mta.info, click the FAQs/Contact Us button on the left and then click E-mail at the bottom of the page.

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