Route 347 closures in Hauppauge begin Thursday

Route 347 lane closures will begin Thursday in Hauppauge as work crews start on the next phase of a $30.5 million safety and beautification project, state transportation officials said in revising last week's lane changes.

From 6:30-11 a.m. weekdays, one of the three eastbound lanes will be off limits to traffic from Brooksite Drive to Route 111, the state advisory said.

In addition, just one lane will be open to traffic from Route 111 to Plaisted Avenue, the state said.

These closures will last until Oct. 4, officials said.

State officials last week had issued an advisory on lane changes that would have lasted until early 2015, but revised plans after further review on the traffic impact.

Crews will revamping the roadway as part of Route 347 Safety, Mobility and Environmental Improvement Project. It will transform 15 miles into a "suburban greenway" that runs through Smithtown, Islip and Brookhaven towns, adding a bike path, rain garden, solar lights and an additional travel lane in each direction, state officials said. Officials also hope to boost safety with countdown timers at crosswalks and narrowed travel lanes to reduce speeds.

For up-to-date traffic information, call 511 or go to 511NY.org. Traffic cameras are accessible through informny.com and informny.mobi for handheld devices.