Construction on the DOT-ted Line

By James Kennedy

The Department of Transportation is undertaking the implementation of two phases in its Grade Crossing Elimination Project, one at the Herricks Road Rail Road Crossing and one at the Mineola Boulevard Bridge.

Each project has a major impact on both the businesses and residents of Mineola and the surrounding areas. With this knowledge Mayor John P. Colbert and other officials have had several meetings with the DOT, ironing out some of the issues that have arisen.

The Herricks Road Not Taken

Mineola Mayor John P. Colbert met with the DOT along with representatives from surrounding areas such as Garden City and East Williston as well as the Town of North Hempstead and Nassau County to discuss the construction taking place at Herricks Road.

The DOT offered a plan in which during a six to eight week construction period trucks would be detoured as a bridge was constructed that would allow the train to pass over Herricks Road and both vehicular and pedestrian traffic would be left unimpeded by the crossing.

In the plan trucks would not be allowed west of Mineola Boulevard on Old Country Road and southbound trucks would not be allowed on Herricks Road south of Jericho Turnpike, instead they would be diverted to Glen Cove Road.

The DOT wanted trucks to be detoured to either Garfield Ave. of First Street, but after objections by Colbert the trucks will be detoured to Broadway.

Measures are being taken to notify those truckers who frequent the area, for instance those travelling to Roosevelt Field, according to attorney for code enforcement Walter Moloughney.

Furthermore signs will be erected as far east as Glen Cove Road to further inform truck drivers to veer away from Herricks Road for the time being.

Once the temporary bridge's construction is completed some time in April, it will be listed as having a 10 feet six inch height clearance for vehicular traffic.

Though the DOT requested that Herricks Road be closed during the construction period, Colbert said , "Closing Herricks Road would send thousands of cars through the residential neighborhood in the southwest section of our village and would congest First Street, making it impossible for ambulances or fire trucks to pass."

Mineola, Williston Park and Garden City all refused to consent to the closing of Herricks Road, so the construction continues with the road open for commuter traffic.

These Routes Were Made for Walkin'

Mayor John P. Colbert stated, "While the current thoroughfare is being reconstructed, the erection of this 'Shinnecock' overpass is a necessity for a location as populated as this area surrounding our Mineola train station."

He continued, "The impact of this new walkway will be a reduction in the congestion of traffic that will be experienced on the bridge during reconstruction, and will afford a considerably safer method for our pedestrians to cross the railroad tracks."

With the help of $900,000 in New York State funds secured by former Assemblyman and current State Senator Michael Balboni the project is underway.

According to Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Tom Rini, as is the case at the Syosset Train Station, the structure will have see-through heavy duty plastic panels.

The only real difference from the Syosset walkway will be that instead of a gradual incline or decline for the stair case, as will be the case in the south side stairs, the stairs on the north side will follow down from the walkway to a platform and then the following set of stairs to the ground will be pointed in the opposite direction, creating a "Z" shape.

The actual walkway will be constructed on Station Road and lifted by crane to be placed and bolted into position when the two stair cases are completed.

According to Superintendent of Public Works Lou Didomenico the project should be completed by the end of February.

Once the walkway is completed, work can begin on the Mineola Boulevard Bridge.

Will Bridge Work Improve Smiles?

There is a great deal of interest in the construction of a new bridge at the end of Mineola Boulevard, a The bid DOT project that has been awarded to Bi County Paving Corp.

The project, which according to the DOT will be one seasonal meaning it will be done within a year, has been the topic of several discussions at the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, and it has been the topic of several village board meetings.

There are many concerns that the project will disrupt traffic and business creating a great nuisance to the people of Mineola. However, proponents of the plan believe that the project will produce, most importantly, a safer bridge for travelers.

The Mineola Boulevard Bridge Project will be executed in three phases of development additional to the construction of the pedestrian walkway.

The first phase will include the demolition of the existing stairs and the installation of temporary stairs on the east side of the bridge. Phase one is complete once the piles have been driven in and the superstructure of the bridge has been erected.

In the next phase traffic will be shifted to the east side of the bridge, maintaining one lane in each direction. The sidewalk on the west side will be closed to pedestrians and a retaining wall will be constructed. A new roadway will be installed as will a new stairway to the bridge superstructure.

In the third phase, traffic will be shifted to the west side, again maintaining one lane for each direction. The east side sidewalk will be closed and the west side re-opened. Temporary stairs will be removed and the bridge will be demolished. A new sidewalk will be added to the structure, and the roadway will be completed. The existing retaining walls and grade embankment will be demolished to meet existing ground at each approach. The project will then be complete.