A groundbreaking ceremony was held last Friday afternoon on the corner of Hempstead Turnpike and Wantagh Avenue to symbolically begin the revitalization of Levittown's Hempstead Turnpike.

This $10 million project is a joint effort between the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT), the Town of Hempstead, and individual and business sponsors. The goal of the project is to improve motorist safety and traffic flow and help beautify Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown from Bethpage State Parkway to Wantagh State Parkway. Among those responsible for this project are state officials, Assemblywoman Kate Murray and Senator Kemp Hannon, the New York State DOT, and Levittown resident Gary Hudes who serves as project coordinator for the revitalization project.

Joseph Boardman, state transportation commissioner stated, "This project demonstrates how the DOT, under the leadership of Governor George Pataki, is utilizing our capabilities and resources to work with local governments and go beyond traditional transportation projects to more broadly serve Long Island communities. DOT will improve mobility and increase safety along Hempstead Turnpike for motorists and pedestrians alike, while simultaneously enhancing the environment along this important roadway."

In addition to providing numerous traffic safety improvements, this 3.6 mile project includes reconstructing the concrete center medians and replacing them with aesthetically pleasing, decorative and landscaped medians, as well as providing numerous roadside tree plantings undertaken in cooperation with the adjacent property owners, to help beautify this heavily traveled roadway. Damaged sidewalk and curb are going to be replaced and pedestrian signals and crosswalks will be upgraded to enhance pedestrian safety. Boardman noted that this project would be completed by the time the US Open comes to Long Island in 2002.

Craig Siracusa, the State DOT regional director, a Levittown native who graduated from MacArthur High School, noted that this project recognizes the community's identity and sense of place which are important sources of local pride. Siracusa commented on the many partnerships involved in this project, from the state, to the town to the Committee to Revitalize Levittown, which resulted in the decision to landscape the median. Siracusa also noted that they would soon be starting a sponsorship program where local individuals and businesses will sponsor a portion of the median and pay for the litter removal, weeding, watering and plant replacement for that section of the turnpike.

Hannon spoke at the groundbreaking about how symbolic this revitalization is because it is taking place in Levittown, which in itself is a symbol of the suburbs. "The renewal and revival and continued upkeep of Levittown has been a hallmark of the people who live here and now the state of New York is going to keep up that hallmark that the residents have done," said Hannon. He went on to thank Hudes for "the thankless task of coordinating lots of people in the community to get this all done."

Assemblywoman Murray has made this revitalization a top priority since her election in 1998 and according to Siracusa the project would not be nearly as successful if it were not for her. Murray herself commented on the tremendous cooperation of everyone involved in the project, and called the entire effort, "a labor of love." She went on to state, "As a native Levittowner, it has long been my goal to beautify the Hempstead Turnpike corridor...I am proud of this precedent-setting project. This project will benefit all Levittowners, and I am so pleased to have been part of the tremendous effort needed to bring this project to fruition."

Town of Hempstead Supervisor Richard Guardino was on hand to speak about the town's plans for the marginal roads, which include a facade program for the local businesses as well as installing antique lighting and redoing the sidewalks starting at Shelter Lane. Guardino noted that the town has already begun this work.

Siracusa, calling him a "bulldog" commented on the commitment of Gary Hudes to this project. According to Siracusa, Hudes drew sketches, talked to landscapers, and got prices from contractors to maintain the medians. Hudes stated, "As a resident of Levittown I am always proud. As a resident of Levittown today I am especially proud." He, like the others before him commented on the many levels of government that worked together on this project, but also recognized Dr. Jacklyn Nogan, president of the Levittown Chamber of Commerce and spoke about the effect this project would have on the business community. "This is going to bring a great sense of community pride back to our businesses but it will especially enhance the home values of this community. It's going to bring a greater sense of pride to this community," concluded Hudes.

In order to minimize the impact of construction on the local community and businesses, construction work will be performed mostly at night, keeping one of the three available travel lanes open, and during off-peak daytime hours when necessary, keeping two of the available travel lanes open.