As part of the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) Long Island Express/High Occupancy Vehicle (LIE/HOV) Capacity Improvement project, a temporary change in the eastbound LIE travel lanes in the area in Old Westbury is expected to begin Dec. 1.

The eastbound LIE travel lanes will be divided into two branches to allow for major road construction work in the area of the Wheatley Road and Old Westbury Road bridges. A fourth travel lane will be added to the current three LIE eastbound lanes, and those four lanes will then split, resulting in two lanes of traffic on each side of the center work zone for a distance of about one mile. It is anticipated that this travel lane bifurcation will remain in place for approximately one month to accommodate this phase of the LIE/HOV Capacity Improvement project work. This bifurcation will allow eastbound lanes to remain open to motorists during daytime hours. In addition, a minimum of two lanes will remain open during nighttime construction, thereby eliminating the need for full nighttime closures of the LIE mainline.

The LIE eastbound bifurcation will begin east of Red Ground Road then converge back into four adjacent travel lanes which will ultimately transition into the normal three eastbound travel lanes approximately one-half mile east of Old Westbury Road. While the current eastbound LIE entrance ramp located east of Glen Cove Road on the South Service Road will remain as an entrance to the LIE, it will extend onto the LIE mainline as one of the four lanes to be used within the bifurcation.

In the opposite direction, three westbound lanes will remain open to traffic. However, the westbound LIE lanes will be shifted to the north, thereby allowing the current left lane of the westbound LIE to be used as the eastbound left lane within the bifurcation. The westbound shoulder has already been repaved to provide an additional travel lane for use in this traffic pattern shift. Temporary concrete barrier will safely separate both the eastbound and westbound traffic, as well as provide for the center work zone between the bifurcated lanes.

These temporary lane configurations should help minimize the impact of this major construction work on the traveling public, as well as the neighboring communities. Advance warnings will be provided on the overhead INFORM message boards and through variable message signs (VMS) alerting motorists of the approaching lane changes. Motorists may call the toll-free hotline at 1-877-4-LIEHOV for updated information on the LIE/HOV Capacity Improvement Project.

The DOT appreciates the patience and understanding of the traveling public as it works to complete this important road improvement project. As with any road construction site, Long Island motorists are urged to drive carefully, obey the work zone construction speed limit of 45 mph and exercise caution when traveling through the entire LIE work zone.