For several weeks now I have pondered writing you with regard to the disruption caused by the replacement of the Manhasset Avenue Bridge. Out of my own indolence, I have neglected to write, however, today I am inspired by Felix G. Andrews' writing in the Manhasset Press. I'd like to embellish his thoughts herein.

On the day that the Jersey Barriers were originally installed to close the bridge, I happened to be at work unusually late and left the Manhasset train station at 9:30 p.m., traveled west on Manhasset Avenue, toward the Bayview community, and nearly crashed into the barriers. I had no prior warning as to when the project would start.

As to the inconvenience, all residents in my community who use the LIRR to commute are virtually forced to drive to the station now. The people in this community with small children are very concerned with the weight of traffic on Combes Drive. Thompson Shore Road and Manhasset Avenue as a result of this. Police monitoring should be stepped up because people speed by during rush hour. As far as the project taking six months, this will impact high school students who live in my community. They will need to walk through town in order to get to the school next door.

I happen to be in the building construction industry and began the construction of a 27-story, cast-in-place concrete structure, which sits on over 200 80-foot pilings, in February. It will reach its 27th floor Monday, 8/7, a little over six months after its start. Then there is the spectre of project delays. Look how smoothly the train station restoration went. It's only nine months past schedule. What happens if this bridge replacement experiences similar delays? There is no reason why this bridge could not have been replaced expeditiously with one with prefabricated sections.

There was little or no travel interruption on Post Avenue or similar crossings when the Northern State Parkway was widened recently. An overtime program is in order to assure that the abutments are replaced in as soon a time as necessary to receive the prefabricated roadway sections. Had this been well thought out, perhaps the inconvenience would be held to a minimum. To top it all, whoever is charged with permitting the excavation of the roadways in this community has permitted KeySpan to open the road one block away from the bridge project. One day, not only was the bridge closed, but Manhasset Avenue was closed one block to the west of the bridge. Super planning! Ms. Newburger, first the proposed assisted-living facility, now this. Do you have a problem with the residents of Bayview?

Andrew C. Baranello