Roads around Southside Hospital in Bay Shore repaved

The Town of Islip recently completed a $150,000 repaving job on roads surrounding Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, the town announced last week.

The work, completed by the town highway department, will allow for smoother trips for emergency vehicles heading to the hospital with patients, and help prevent the type of flooding that occurred during superstorm Sandy, officials said Friday in a news release.

Town Councilwoman Trish Bergin Weichbrodt described the project as a "full-depth reclamation" that entails stripping the road "all the way to the bone," installing substantial drainage infrastructure and repaving the venues.

The roughly six-month project was paid for by the state Department of Transportation's 2013 road improvement program, Bergin Weichbrodt said. It involved repairing sections of North Montgomery Avenue to the east of the hospital and Aletta Place to the north.

"We took care of the roadway that the ambulance and paramedics and hospital staff had been complaining about for quite some time," she said. "It's important that we get our patients and their loved ones in and out of the ambulance section of the hospital quickly and safely."

During Sandy, areas of the hospital flooded and equipment was damaged, so flooding mitigation was needed to prevent a repeat in future weather events, Bergin Weichbrodt said.

Dr. Jay Enden, medical director of Southside, said in a statement that the project benefited the hospital and its patients. "The recent improvements of the roads around Southside Hospital have enhanced patient experience and comfort while being transported to our Emergency Department," he said.