Construction starts on Flanders roundabout

Work crews have started construction of a $1.1-million roundabout to replace a dangerous intersection where two county roads meet in Flanders, just north of the hamlet of Westhampton.

Old Riverhead Road, County Road 31, runs between Riverhead and Westhampton Beach. It merges with Quogue-Riverhead Road just north of Sunrise Highway.

Northbound cars on County Road 31 must make a sharp left turn across 104 at a right-angled intersection. Because there’s a curve in the road, drivers approaching from the other direction have a limited line of sight. As a result, county and local officials say, many of the accidents that occur there are at high speed.

When completed, the roundabout will require all cars to slow down, which officials say will result in a smoother flow of traffic and reduce the possibility of a head-on collision.

The county has no other roundabout projects planned for construction at this time, officials said.

Suffolk County awarded the contract to Pratt Brothers Inc. of Bay Shore. County officials say the work is expected to be completed by Christmas.