Commuters who rely on parking their vehicles in the parking garage adjacent to the Hicksville Long Island Rail Road station will have to find an alternate location.

The four-story Oyster Bay Town-owned lot, which is located at Newbridge Road and Duffy Avenue and holds about 1,400 vehicles, was closed Tuesday after a worker from the town spotted a cracked structural support T-beam on the garage's first floor or third level (which is the first level one can see from looking at the facility from the street).

According to Marta Kane of the town's public information office, the employee immediately reported the crack and town engineers were called in to inspect the damaged beam. At this time, the lot, which was almost completely full, was closed to entering vehicles. All commuters who returned home Tuesday were able to retrieve their cars and, as a precaution. town officials assisted some 20 percent - between 200-250 motorists -whose vehicles were parked closest to the subject beam.

On Wednesday morning, engineers were back on scene and a full investigation into the entire structure is under way. Owners of those vehicles still parked in the garage have been notified, said Kane, and will have access to them when they return to the station. No one, she said, will be towed.

To accommodate motorists, town officials worked with the Broadway Mall to secure some 800 parking spaces in the shopping center's southwest lot, which is located opposite the Hicksville Post Office on West John Street - about a half mile from the station. A shuttle operated by the town will take commuters to and from the station Monday-Friday between the hours of 5-9 a.m. and 4-8 p.m. Additionally, normal street parking time restrictions within a half-mile radius of the train station have been suspended; handicapped, "here to corner" and fire hydrant restrictions, however, remain in effect.

"We appreciate everyone's patience and want residents to know that we are working diligently to accommodate everyone in a safe and efficient manner," said Kane, who added that information on the parking situation will be updated, as it becomes available, on the town's website, www.oysterbaytown.com. For additional information, call the Oyster Bay Town Department of Public Safety at 677-5350