Assemblyman Joe DeStefano joined Senator Dean Murray and state and county leaders, first responders, organized labor and construction industry representatives to call on New York State to widen Sunrise Highway to three lanes in both directions from Exit 53 at Route 112 to Exit 59 at Wading River Road — roughly 10 additional miles.
“This is exactly the kind of infrastructure investment Long Islanders need,” DeStefano said. “We send billions of dollars in fuel and other taxes to Albany and Washington, and we deserve our fair share of those transportation dollars back here at home.”
This project should be near the top of the list for New York’s infrastructure funding, the Assemblyman argued, especially when it comes to Long Island receiving its fair share of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden.
Adding a third lane would increase capacity along this heavily traveled corridor, help ease congestion and improve access for motorists and emergency responders.
“The congestion is not just an inconvenience — it is a public safety issue when ambulances and other emergency vehicles are unable to get through backed-up traffic,” according to DeStefano.
With NYU Langone Health planning a major expansion of its facility on Hospital Road, improving access along Sunrise Highway is becoming even more critical.
DeStefano recognized local officials for joining him in calling for the highway expansion, including Senator Dean Murray, County Executive Ed Romaine, Suffolk Legislature Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo, Legislators Jim Mazzarella and Dominick Thorne, South Country Ambulance Chief Greg Miglino Jr., Long Island Contractors’ Association Executive Director Marc Herbst, Operating Engineers Local 138 Business Manager John Duffy, Brookhaven Town Council Members Neil Foley and Karen Dunne-Kesnig, and all of the first responders, labor representatives, contractors and community leaders who are with us in this effort.