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Merchants fear for their livelihoods
Skeptical of design, value of Route 112 project
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Some 200 concerned and at times angry area merchants and residents Tuesday evening crowded the Medford offices of state Department of Transportation supervisors in charge of overseeing the NYS Route 112 "Safety & Mobility Improvement Projects."
Many complained about short notice or lack of notice regarding the roadwork, which despite the title of the meeting as a "pre-construction kick-off," has already begun. Motorists cannot help but notice the wide swath of trees and vegetation that has been cleared to make way for the widening of the nearly 80-year-old artery.
DOT officials stressed there would be no road closures during the day and any lane shifting would be done at night. "Everything that can be done at night will be," DOT Regional Director Subi Chakraborti said afterward. However, according to project engineers Gary Moller and Joe Ludwig, that only amounts to about 25 percent of the total work. Marc Herbst, executive director of the Long Island Contractors' Association, explained later that much of the work involves new drainage systems, where the workers' safety becomes a factor after dark. The daytime construction would however be scheduled around rush hours, DOT officials said.
Margaret Conklin, regional public involvement coordinator, patiently fielded questions from the public during the two-hour session. But Conklin, assisted by DOT engineers and real estate supervisors, was not able to convince many in the room who insisted the project would ruin their businesses and not improve the traffic situation along Route 112. At one point Conklin seemed to agree with her contentious audience, saying, "It's not going to make it all that better, I have to tell you that."
Afterward however, Sen. Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) was unequivocal in his support for the project which, he said, improves the safety of a "road designed and built in the 1930s." When asked about the possibility of the state providing financial compensation to those Route 112 merchants who fear for their economic lives in this down economy should the extensive roadwork keep customers away, LaValle pointed to the new turning lanes that will provide better access to shopping centers and said, "The very people complaining will have enormous relief" when the project is complete.
LaValle said he thought the abrupt start of the roadwork, announced by Gov. David Paterson last month after federal stimulus funds had been secured for the project, may have contributed to the apparent failure to communicate with the public. The original public outreach on the project dates back to 2004. County Legislator Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D-East Setauket) called the traffic studies done for the project "still valid."
Stacey Golik of Bagels N A Hole Lot More harangued DOT officials with rapid fire questions and derisive comments throughout the meeting. Afterward, on her way out, Golik handed LaValle a sheaf of papers, saying it contained a petition with more than 1,500 signatures of persons opposed to the road improvement project. LaValle, who was holding a coffee cup in his hand, tucked it under his arm but said nothing. A man with Golik told the senator to enjoy his Starbucks, because Golik would not be able to afford that brand of coffee if the roadwork puts her out of business.
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