Richard Schell of the Department of Transportation, in suit, explains the plan to Susan and Paul Anzalone, who live between the two planned roundabouts.
By Tim Healy
tim.healy@newsday.com
More than 150 people turned out last night to see plans and attend a public hearing on proposals to reduce flooding along 0.9-mile northern stretch of Route 110 in Huntington and Halesite and to improve the flow of traffic by replacing two traditional intersections with roundabouts.
Plans for the roundabouts and flooding proposals, which each had variations and are expected to cost between $12.4 million and $18.7 million, were on display in one room of the Huntington library from 4 to 9 p.m., while a second room was set up for the public to voice comments, starting at 7 p.m. Written comments were also taken in the display room starting at 4 p.m.
Paul and Susan Anzalone, who live in a 270-year-old house midway between the two proposed roundabouts, were not happy with the traffic-flow proposal, worrying that it would lead drivers to inadvertently turn into their driveway.
Susan Anzalone, noting that her house was on a list of historic properties, said “I’m not allowed to make changed to my house, but they’re going to come in and make big changes to the road right in front.”
The roundabouts would be built on Route 110 at the intersections of Creek Road and Mill Dam Road. They would have raised medians and do away with the need for traffic lights.
Richard Schell, a roundabout design specialist with the state transportation department, said the questions he heard from residents was “typical of roundabout meetings. There’s concern about change, a lot of questions, and the negatives come out.”
However, he said that studies showed that roundabouts improved traffic flow and were safer than traditional intersections. “There’s a reduction in accidents of 40 percent,” he said, “with injuries reduced 80 percent and fatalities or incapacitating injuries reduced 90 percent.”
The measures to alleviate flooding also drew interest and comment.
Debbie Costa, who works at Helen Keller services, said flooding had long been a problem in the area.
“We’ve had to cancel programs, send people home, and worry even about getting people out of the building,” she said. During the public hearing portion of the evening, she said she was looking forward to the flooding being fixed but was worried that the blind and hard-of-hearing clients at Helen Keller could have a difficult time crossing at roundabouts instead of traditional intersections.
The measures proposed to improve drainage, according to the state, include:
Bob Steele, a consultant from L. K. McLean Associates working with state transportation officials on the project, said the proposal also includes adding 8-by-8-foot grates on New York Avenue over a large culvert just north of Mill Lane to get storm water off the road.
The stretch of Route 110 involved runs from Prime Avenue and Madison Street on the south to Anchor Court and Youngs Hill Road in the north. A document handed out at the hearing said “All feasible comments received as part of this public hearing will be considered and incorporated into the final design report, if appropriate.”
Written comments can be sent by Nov. 24 to The NY route 110 Design Team, NYS Department of Transportation, 250 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, New York, 11788.
Approval of a final design is expected by spring, with construction beginning in 2009 and lasting into 2011.
Debbie Costa of Helen Keller Services, addresses a packed hearing room.