Work on Ronkonkoma Ave. bridge to affect LIE

The state Department of Transportation has begun repairs to the Ronkonkoma Avenue Bridge over the Long Island Expressway, which is scheduled to involve road lane alterations and closures on the LIE for the next 10 days.

The DOT plans to shift the LIE travel lanes in both directions between exits 60 and 63 during the daytime, and fully close the expressway in that section between 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays.

The $2.6 million construction project is expected to take two weeks and began on Sunday.

"Repairing the Ronkonkoma Avenue Bridge now will give it a longer life span, improve safety for drivers, and save the taxpayers money," Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in a news release.

The Ronkonkoma Avenue Bridge project is part of a $24.2 million state contract that includes six Long Island bridges. Posillico Civil Inc. of Farmingdale and Greenman-Pederson Inc. of Babylon are contracted to work on the project.