The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has announced the start of construction on the $6.8 million Sunrise Highway (NY Route 27) Massapequa Safety and Mobility Improvement Project in the town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County.

To address the high traffic volume, numerous driveways, closely spaced traffic signals, and heavy left-turn movements, the project includes repairing and resurfacing the roadway pavement; upgrading traffic signals; making access modifications; providing extra vehicle storage for turning movements; installing new signs and pavement markings; making storm water runoff drainage improvements, and installing or repairing sidewalks, curbs and driveways. Throughout construction, NYSDOT is striving to minimize the impact on motorists and the local community by performing paving operations at night, and keeping travel lanes open during the day between Unqua Road and Old Sunrise Highway, as well as during the holiday shopping season between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

"As a resident of the Massapequa community who travels in this area every day, I am well aware of the need for significant traffic alleviation measures on Sunrise Highway. I appreciate the efforts of the state to improve the conditions of this road and am confident that the ultimate outcome will greatly benefit the residents that travel this area," said Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto.

Specific renovations include: realigning the Sunrise Highway/Old Sunrise Highway intersection; adding an auxiliary travel lane on westbound Sunrise Highway near Unqua Road/Park Lane; extending vehicular storage for left turns at several intersections; installing a raised separator on westbound NY Route 27 between Unqua Road and the Sunrise Mall western entrance; reconfiguring access to "Philip's Plaza" by creating a new right turn lane on Sunrise Highway westbound at Broadway Avenue near the Massapequa LIRR station; installing upgraded traffic signals at 11 intersections; and resurfacing Sunrise Highway from Cartwright Boulevard to Louden Avenue.

Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of the driver's license.

Construction is being performed by InterCounty Paving Associations, LLC, of Hackettstown, New Jersey and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2008.