Long Island gets $21 million to reinforce three vulnerable roadways against flooding in future storms, extreme rainfall

Three Long Island roadways will undergo renovations over the next two years to address flooding as heavy rainfall events become a greater concern across the region, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.

More than $21 million has been earmarked for “major resiliency investments” that will “address flooding and enhance infrastructure along key travel corridors on Long Island’s South Shore,” according to a news release from the governor.

Drainage improvements will combat flooding concerns at two low-lying problem spots in Nassau County — Meadowbrook State Parkway at the intersection of Merrick Road at the border of Merrick and Freeport and Wantagh State Parkway at the ramp to Bay Parkway in Wantagh.

The sole project in Suffolk will replace the culvert that allows Amityville Creek to flow beneath Merrick Road, raise that roadway and upgrade other infrastructure to improve drainage in the Village of Amityville.

The resiliency efforts will “fortify our state from the impacts of climate change and extreme weather on our infrastructure,” Hochul said in a statement.

“We have already seen several historic rain events this year, and the need for smart investments to reduce the risk of flooding and keep roadways safe has never been greater,” the governor continued. “By enhancing critical South Shore roadways, this project will keep Long Island communities safe, especially during extreme weather events.”

The South Shore bore the brunt of Hurricane Sandy, which nearly 13 years ago killed 13 people on Long Island, damaged nearly 100,000 structures and caused tens of billions of dollars worth of damage, Newsday has reported. Municipal officials and scientists are exploring the best solutions for protecting Long Island from not only the next hurricane, but the next heavy rain event that causes flash flooding.

Suffolk County Legis.Jason A. Richberg (D-West Babylon) said raising a portion of Merrick Road in Amityville is "one of the solutions that came out of Hurricane Sandy and Irene."

"It's important we're getting work done in that area because that's the last major thoroughfare before the Great South Bay," Richberg added in a telephone interview Wednesday. "It's important that that is protected."

In addition to raising part of the roadway that crosses over Amityville Creek, workers will widen the culvert below the road to “better support hydraulic capacity and aquatic habitat” and “upgrade infrastructure to reduce flooding in residential areas,” Hochul’s release reads. The elevated roadway will also have new bike accommodations, sidewalks and shoulders. Two-way traffic and emergency vehicle access will be possible through lane shifts during construction, which is expected to end in the spring of 2027.

Further west along Merrick Road is one of the two areas where Hochul announced work will occur in Nassau. Construction where the road meets Meadowbrook State Parkway, plus work on the Wantagh State Parkway, will include “the installation of pump stations,” improved outflow pipes and check valves designed to ensure one-way flow of rainfall, the governor's release reads.

"I've driven the stretch of Merrick Road countless times and I've seen firsthand how quickly it can flood," Nassau County Legis. Seth I. Koslow (D-Merrick) said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "It's not always from a storm, sometimes it's just during the high tide. It's frustrating, it's dangerous, it's hard to get to and from work."

Renovations on both state roadways in Nassau will cost $9.5 million and are expected to be complete next spring, according to Hochul. Crews will also install an additional drainage pipe near Jones Beach Field 5 “to ease flooding conditions for beachgoers and theater attendees,” according to the release.

These construction initiatives will “primarily take place off roadways,” and any lane closures will be scheduled during off-peak hours to reduce traffic impacts, according to the governor’s release.

The work that will take place over the next few years is "long-overdue ... to protect South Shore communities,” Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) said in a statement.

“As coastal flooding becomes a more frequent threat," Garbarino added, "it’s essential that Long Island receives its fair share of federal resources to strengthen resiliency and keep our communities safe.”