New traffic pattern on Rockaway Turnpike as Nassau Expressway work progresses

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Because of the shifting construction and renovations on the Nassau Expressway, motorists should expect a new traffic pattern on Rockaway Turnpike between Nassau Expressway (state route 878) and Bay Boulevard.

All traffic on Rockaway Turnpike will be shifted onto temporary pavement at the intersection with the expressway. All through lanes will remain open during peak hours. The new traffic pattern will be in place for the remainder of the construction period, which is expected to be until next December

To implement this temporary shift, on Thursday, Jan. from 9 p.m. to5 a.m., two lanes in both directions of Rockaway Turnpike will be closed between Reyem Drive and Bay Boulevard with one lane each way remaining open. All lanes of the Nassau Expressway will be closed from Rockaway Turnpike to Bay Boulevard and traffic will be detoured though Bay Boulevard.


This will be a single night detour and closure. Nassau County Police will be on site for assistance.

This is part of the $130 million New York State Department of Transportation design-build project to improve the safety and operation of this section of Nassau Expressway as well as improve the resiliency of the roadway as an emergency coastal storm evacuation route.

As with most road projects, work might be cancelled, postponed or prolonged because of bad weather.

Consistent with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Driver’s First initiative, the project has been designed to minimize impacts to expressway traffic, DOT officials said.

Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in work zones and follow the instructions of the flag persons for their safety and the safety of the highway work crew. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license.

For real-time travel information, call 511 or visit www.511NY.org or the mobile site at m.511ny.org, New York State’s official traffic and travel information source.

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