Once feeling neglected and overlooked, the inhabitants of four Syosset households struggled to convince the New York DOT that they needed exactly what many surrounding homes were afforded ¬ a noise wall built to absorb Long Island Expressway ruckus. After a year's struggle, lengthy road examinations and a decibel reduction analysis, they got what they wanted.

But now, there is yet another barrier in building this barrier, as the state declares that it must build the wall right on top of the neighbors' properties.

"You have a legitimate problem here," said 16th District Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs, who one year ago had backed the residents of Carolyn Court ¬ located south of the LIE ¬ when they didn't get a wall, and is now trying to make sure that the barriers won't "make it look like they're walled in." Jacobs, and the affected Syosset residents, would like the barriers built on the northern side of the expressway's eastbound service road, between the service road and the LIE itself.

But the State DOT does not believe that this is feasible, listing acoustical standards and economic prudence as reasons against such a move. The debate then becomes whether the DOT is too stringently following its rules, or if it is acting responsibly to a complaint that merely affects four homes.

Diane Horowitz, one Carolyn Court resident, believes it's the former. Horowitz, who led the prior challenge to attain the noise walls in the first place, now champions the cause to get them built on the northern side of the service road.

Although she, personally, would reluctantly accept the walls being placed at the northernmost edge of her property, other neighbors, who would be more negatively affected than she, would refuse such a project. Among the concerns of neighbors who would currently refuse the walls going up alongside their property are the destruction of trees, fences and other private possessions, as well as a loss of aesthetics. And the longer there is discord between neighbors, the longer residents will have to live without walls, something Horowitz cannot stand anymore.

"You would be appalled at what you hear and see on a regular basis from my backyard," said Horowitz, who said she rarely uses the backside of her home.

Neighbor Bonnie Weiss, who has joined Horowitz's campaign, has been unable to sell her home so far because of noise generated from the LIE. "I've had my house on the market for months. And it always comes down to the expressway."

For these reasons, neighbors cannot comprehend why their street never was deemed worthy of a wall when the LIE project first got underway. Fortunately, additional inspections of her neighboring properties by DOT officials, and influence from Legislator Jacobs, recently prompted the DOT to reassess the need on the street and change its mind. DOT representatives could not explain what factors had changed over the years to compel a change in the street's need.

The complaining neighbors and local politicians acknowledge that the DOT has been prompt to respond, and that its regional representatives have been willing to listen. But, according to most, the people who have visited the site and have met with community members have no true authority to make key decisions. That, they say, lies with Director Craig Siracusa.

Diane Delgado, a spokesperson for Siracusa, held fast to the state's given reasons that a wall cannot be built on the north side of the service road.

"A wall between the service road and the main line would not help them in any way. There is a much greater reduction in noise south of the service road, and it's also approximately half the cost."

But Jacobs called the cost difference "a drop in the bucket," especially when considering a budget surplus of $1.5 million .

Horowitz repeated the figures (the DOT did not confirm) that she said the DOT gave for the two options. Building walls on the south side would cost $16,000. Building them on the north side would cost $56,000.

"The state...is trying to take the easy way out," Jacobs said.

Nevertheless, Delgado said that the DOT will try to lessen the neighbors' burden. "We are looking into if there's anything else we can do in the area south of the service road to make that wall less obtrusive to them ¬ something that they would be comfortable with, and less damaging to any tree line or anything that they might feel they want to keep."

Carolyn Court residents are also upset because a nearby gas station on the opposite side of the expressway is protected by a wall built in between the service road and the LIE. But Delgado said, "They could have a completely different traffic flow there. Each situation has to be analyzed individually."

Delgado stressed that if residents get the wall exactly where they want it, they would not be protected from any additional noise generated should a mall be developed on the Cerro Wire property on Robbins Lane. If this happens, more people would likely travel along the service road, to which the neighboring houses would still be exposed.

Horowitz continues to communicate with the DOT, but is also seeking help from local officials. With Jacobs already on her team, Horowitz seeks backing from Senator Carl Marcellino and Assemblyman David Sidikman. While both offices are supportive, both have so far been noncommittal in taking a position.

"There have been a lot of complaints lately about the noise walls,"said Frank Goban, representative to Sidikman. "We're having them over at Route 135 as well. Some people want them, and others don't." Goban, in discussing the Route 135 noise wall project, explained that after certain neighborhood blocks protested the construction of noise walls alongside their property, moneys originally budgeted for those areas went to build walls in regions where people expressed desire for the walls. "Maybe something along those lines can be done in this case," he said. "We'll have to see how things develop."

Senator Marcellino representative Pat Reiss said, "I'm sure the DOT will try to find a way to make all four families happy," and added that Marcellino will monitor the situation.

Horowitz and Jacobs said that the DOT has imposed a deadline of June for the four households to come to a decision. Delgado said that she hadn't heard of any such deadline.