The state Department of Transportation has begun a $3.5 million construction project to improve safety and traffic flow at the intersection of Port Washington Boulevard and Middle Neck Road near Saint Francis Hospital in the Village of Flower Hill.

The project, announced by Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Construction is being staged to “maintain traffic flow and minimize disruptions under the state’s Drivers First Initiative.”

Port Washington Boulevard, designated State Route 101, carries approximately 30,000 vehicles daily and serves as a primary corridor for residents and businesses on the Port Washington peninsula, according to the press release.

Saint Francis Hospital and Heart Center, located at the intersection, is the only specialty-designated cardiac center in New York State.

Planned improvements include new sidewalks along northbound and southbound sections of Port Washington Boulevard, a new crosswalk across Middle Neck Road at the hospital’s southern entrance, and an upgraded traffic signal system with audible pedestrian signals and countdown timers.

Workers will also extend and add turning lanes and reconfigure existing lanes to improve traffic flow. All new pavement markings will use reflective materials to enhance visibility.

“By making strategic investments in critical corridors like Port Washington Boulevard, we are enhancing safety and resiliency while improving mobility and reliability at this important Nassau County intersection,” Dominguez said in the press release.

The DOT said it coordinated with Saint Francis Hospital to ensure the improvements support access for patients, visitors and emergency vehicles.

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena called the intersection one of the busiest in the town.

“These upgrades will help make it safer for drivers, pedestrians, patients, and emergency vehicles to get through the area every day,” DeSena said.North Hempstead Town Council Member Mariann Dalimonte thanked Gov. Kathy Hochul and the DOT for initiating the project.

Source: LI Press