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Old Posted Aug 1, 2008, 3:33 AM
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NY1

Transit Officials To Ease Congestion At S.I. Expressway

July 31, 2008

The State Department of Transportation announced Thursday new plans to improve a two-mile stretch of one of the city's busiest highways -- the Staten Island Expressway. NY1’s Joe Malvasio filed the following report.

It's not uncommon to ride your brakes for the entire stretch of Staten Island Expressway.

“The highway is the worst when people are going to work in the morning, or coming home in the evening,” said a commuter.

To help ease congestion, State Department of Transportation officials announced Thursday major comprehensive changes to the busiest stretch of the expressway, from Sunnyside to the Verrazano Bridge.

“We'll reconfigure entrance and exit ramps in both eastbound and westbound directions,” said DOT Deputy Commissioner Stan Gee.

Drivers can expect big changes to their daily routines, including six new ramps intended to speed up the commute, improve traffic flow and help get buses on and off the expressway. Two entrances would be completely removed and related to areas DOT officials say could better handle the traffic.

The agency said the new interchanges would be in locations with better merges and longer roadways to help drivers get on and off the highway.

Other changes include improvements to the ramps at Clove Road and new barriers to help keep cars bound for the expressway from using local roads as short cuts.

“This is great news,” said Republican Mid-Island Councilman James Oddo. “The Staten Island Expressway is the key thoroughfare on Staten Island and every improvement they make on the Staten Island Expressway has an associated positive impact on our community.”

DOT said the project will cost $50 million and take two years to complete.

While the construction will cause short term headaches for drivers, Democratic North Shore Councilman and congressional candidate Michael McMahon says the changes will improve Staten Island commutes in the long run.

“I think it will be worth it, when it is all said and done, the project is finished,” said McMahon. “People’s lives on Staten Island will be much better.”

Construction is slated to start in spring 2010.
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