County Road 39 to get 2nd eastbound lane

Suffolk County will begin a $4.5 million construction project to add a second eastbound lane to County Route 39.

The work, aimed alleviating congestion along the busiest stretch of road in the Hamptons, will begin at after Labor Day when summer traffic usually thins out.

The county widened the western end of CR 39 two years ago by adding 11-foot road lanes, rather than the 13-foot lanes required for federal financing.

The road begins where Sunrise Highway ceases being four lanes in the Shinnecock Hills and continues to Montauk Highway at the eastern end of Southampton Village.

The narrower lanes eliminated having to condemn property and cut years off construction time, reducing costs for the 6-mile long road project from $70 million to $20 million.

The 1.5-mile stretch of road to be widened after Labor Day runs from North Sea Road to Montauk Highway.

Suffolk Executive Steve Levy, who announced the project on Friday, said the first part of the improvement reduced commuting time for thousands of Long Islanders.

The project will also include a center turn lane and 6-foot wide road shoulders, as well as intersection improvements at David White's Lane. County officials say the final part of the project should be completed by Memorial Day, 2012.