Village of Flower Hill officials announced on Monday that the state Department of Transportation will complete a traffic study on the intersection of Port Washington Boulevard and Middle Neck Road.
“After a patient and persistent effort, we now have a commitment from the NYSDOT to do a complete study of this intersection. This commitment is the result of coordinated efforts by Senator Jack Martins, our Mayor, Elaine Phillips, and the administration of St. Francis Hospital who are directly affected by any proposed changes and have a strong interest in solving the traffic and safety problems,” Village clerk Ronnie Shatzkamer said in a statement.
Village officials said that anyone driving on Port Washington Boulevard during rush hours appreciates the need for addressing the traffic and safety issues on this state owned road, which has averaged two to four accidents a month since the beginning of 2013.
The congestion on the southbound lanes that back up as far as St. Francis Hospital, the excessive speeding and the insufficient storage in the left hand turn lane for Middle Neck Road, combine to make the road a hazard, according to village officials.
An initial traffic study, which was requested by the Village of Flower Hill in conjunction with concerned residents, resulted in the state DOT checking all the crosswalk signs, installing new signage and reducing the speed limit to 40 m.p.h.
According to village officials, the state DOT also acknowledged that the intersection needed further studying and possibly a re-design. The project is estimated to take at least five years.
Phillips has requested that the village also be allowed to erect traffic control devices in the interim.
The Village of Flower Hill has proposed erecting overhead speed display signs on both sides of Port Washington Boulevard.
Village officials said the speed display signs are an effective and affordable tool to slow drivers and studies have shown that these signs produce 10 percent-20 percent reductions in average speeds along with an increase in compliance with the posted speed limit.
Shatzkamer said Martins provided the village with state grant to fund the entire cost of the equipment for the signs, which Phillips estimated at $62,000.
The proposed cantilevered poles that will hold the signs will be located northbound between Farmview Road and East High Road and southbound north of Oaktree Lane.
The village is now waiting for approval from the state DOT and feedback from the community.
Flower Hill officials said they believe that by slowing traffic, there will be a reduction in the number of accidents at the Middle Neck Road intersection and make Port Washington Boulevard safer.
