Thursday, May 2, 2024
The Nassau County Department of Public Works plans to expand its pothole pilot program significantly in 2019. In 2018, the DPW:
- Filled 60,057 potholes.
- Paved 87 lane miles — up 20 percent over 2017.
- Filled 37 potholes per mile.
- Deployed seven, three-man crews per day during peak pothole season.
Source: Nassau County Department of Public Works
“One down, 47,000 to go,” Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said, looking down at the pothole she had just filled. Curran worked alongside staffers from the county Department of Public Works on Jan. 23 to fill and pave a small stretch of potholes along The Boulevard in Sea Cliff. She also announced the expansion of the department’s pothole pilot program, which includes short-term pothole repair, long-term resurfacing projects and infrastructure goals for the year.
“As peak pothole season has descended upon us, my team has put an aggressive plan together to get Nassau’s roads back in top-notch condition,” Curran said at the news conference. “Everywhere I go, people ask about roads, and I want to assure everyone we are listening, and one by one we are addressing all of the problems.”
The county is undergoing a roadway sustainability and compliance study to address infrastructure through the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council’s United Planning Works Program. The study is assessing existing conditions on county-owned roads so DPW staff can prepare long-term plans to maintain them.
The short term
The long-term
Resurfacing was completed on the North Shore in 2018 at Bayville Road, in Bayville; Piping Rock Road, in Locust Valley; and on portions of Glen Cove-Oyster Bay Road, in Oyster Bay. The 2019 program includes resurfacing of Shore Road and The Boulevard in Sea Cliff. Work is slated to begin this spring. Contracts have already been awarded.
“We are very thankful that the potholes will be addressed,” said District 11 Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, “and we’re also looking forward to doing an entire streetscape for The Boulevard and Shore Road, which is included in the [county’s] capital plan.”
Other roads that will be resurfaced this spring include Cove Neck Road, in Cove Neck; a portion of Berry Hill Road, in Oyster Bay Cove; Cold Spring Road and Underhill Boulevard, in Syosset; and a large portion of Woodbury Road, in Woodbury.
District 18 Legislator Josh Lafazan said, “I’m grateful for the county executive’s commitment to this crucial quality-of-life issue for Nassau County. My constituents in Oyster Bay, Syosset and across the North Shore will be the beneficiaries of this action, and I look forward to seeing the finished product.”
The bidding process
The department plans to change its bidding process for resurfacing contracts, too. “Historically, our DPW has bid multiple $4 million to $5 million resurfacing contracts, and we had three phases in construction going on at the same time around the county,” Curran said. “This year we are bundling these phases into a single, bigger contract.”
Curran said DPW will bid a $15 million road-resurfacing contract to solicit interest from new firms capable of completing larger projects, thus expanding the vendor pool. The new contract will also include incentives for the firm selected to complete the resurfacing of more than 60 lane miles during the 2019 paving season. The remaining 112 lane miles, Curran said, would be completed by smaller contractors.
“We’re beginning the hard work of reinvesting in our infrastructure to make sure when people are going to work, they can get there, and their car is safe,” Curran said. “A very basic function of municipal government is to have sound roads, and we’re rebuilding our infrastructure and our roads so that people can rely on them.”
The worldwide pandemic has threatened many of the businesses you rely on every day, but don’t let it take away your source for local news. Now more than ever, we need your help to ensure nothing but the best in hyperlocal community journalism comes straight to you. Consider supporting the Herald with a small donation. It can be a one-time, or a monthly contribution, to help ensure we’re here through this crisis. To donate or for more information, click here.
Sponsored content
Other items that may interest you