N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that construction on the Staten Island Expressway in Staten Island has begun.
The construction project is designed to enhance safety and reduce congestion along the westbound side of the Expressway between the northbound Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway entrance ramp and the South Avenue exit ramp. The project will create a continuous auxiliary lane that will give motorists longer distances to merge onto and off the expressway.
“As more and more people return to our roads, it is critically important that we continue upgrading infrastructure to enhance safety for motorists and reduce congestion,” Cuomo said. “This project will deliver a better highway for motorists and improved local streets for Staten Island residents, enhancing New York’s transit network to better meet current and future demands.”
The project will also give motorists entering from north or southbound Dr. Martin Luther King Expressway to access Richmond Avenue and South Avenue without having to complete merge on to the Staten Island Expressway. Additionally, the project will provide easier access from Victory Boulevard to Richmond Avenue and South Avenue via the Dr. Martin Luther King Expressway, reducing traffic on local streets.
“Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York is continuing to make important investments in our infrastructure that will create a more efficient transportation network,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. “This much-needed project will help to reduce congestion along the Staten Island Expressway and adjacent local roadways, benefitting thousands of motorists who use these roads every day.”
The $3.3 million project will also include two new overhead sign structures, new guide rails, and new LED lighting.