LIE sound barrier system to be repaired in Suffolk County, state transportation officials say

The Long Island Expressway’s sound barrier system will be repaired along a Suffolk County stretch to help buffer surrounding communities from noise pollution, state transportation officials said on Thursday.

The $8.9 million project will swap out the barrier’s worn planks between Exit 49 (State Route 110/Broadhollow Road) and Exit 57 (State Route 454/Veterans Memorial Highway) in Huntington, Islip, and Smithtown towns, officials said. Construction is set to begin over the next few weeks and go on until late 2027, the New York State Department of Transportation said in a statement. 

"By restoring the sound barrier system, we’re enhancing both the livability of surrounding neighborhoods and resiliency of the highway infrastructure," Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said in the Thursday statement.

The project will remove the deteriorated planks and others that have been weakened due to crashes and other occurrences, the department said. In its place, workers will install wood planks "that are supported by steel posts and are designed to provide long-lasting durability and performance."

Construction will occur only in repair areas and will be conducted primarily off the roadway to reduce disruptions to traffic, officials said.

"Restoring and repairing the sound barriers will not only reduce traffic noise but also enhance the quality of life for residents in our community who live near the corridor," Smithtown Town Supervisor Edward Wehrheim said in the statement.

By Tiffany Cusaac-Smith

tiffany.cusaac-smith@newsday.com@T_Cusaac

Tiffany Cusaac-Smith is a general assignment reporter for Newsday. She previously worked at USA TODAY and is an alum of Howard University.