Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday that an underpass at New Hyde Park Road built as part of a Long Island Rail Road expansion project had been completed two months ahead of time.
He said other MTA projects were also being fast-tracked due to a pandemic-related drop in customers.
“This was a traffic nightmare for decades,” Cuomo said during a news conference at Clinton G. Martin Community Center in New Hyde Park. “And it was one of those situations where you would say as you’re going through it, ‘why don’t they fix this.’”
Cuomo said waiting for the train to pass at the grade crossing that was replaced by the underpass created inconvenience for drivers and was bad for the environment since cars would sit idle while waiting.
“They got it done fast, they got it done on budget. Usually just being on time and on budget is a great success for government,” Cuomo said of the project, which has two lanes in each direction and pedestrian walkways.
A slide at Cuomo’s news conference said the project is expected to reduce traffic delays, improve safety and quality of life and give pedestrians better access.
A spokesperson for the MTA said the U-structure, the foundation which supports the train track above, was installed a the New Hyde Park Road site over one weekend in July.
This grade crossing elimination is one of eight that are occurring on the Main Line as part of the project to add a third track from Floral Park to Hicksville. A nearby grade crossing on Covert Avenue in New Hyde Park was eliminated in October.
Other projects occurring as part of the railroad expansion include the renovation or complete rebuilding of several stations to add modern amenities. These include new benches, public Wi-Fi and better compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
