Farmingville, NY – Today, Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Daniel Losquadro and Congressman Lee Zeldin were joined by Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine, Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Foley, Long Island Community Hospital President and CEO Richard Margulis, North Patchogue Fire District Commissioner Jack Blaum, Long Island Contractors Association Deputy Executive Director Sheryl Buro, South Country Ambulance Company Chief Greg Miglino, and local first responders and labor leaders in announcing the start of construction for the long awaited rebuilding of Hospital Road Bridge.
The new bridge will replace the existing, outdated two-lane bridge over Sunrise Highway which is a main route for residents, law enforcement and first responders traveling to and from Long Island Community Hospital and the North Patchogue Fire Department.
“When Congressman Zeldin and I met to discuss infrastructure priorities during his first term in office, he understood we could not possibly afford to fund the replacement of the Hospital Road Bridge locally. Soon after, he introduced the SAFE Bridges Act of 2015, enabling 80 percent of the project to be federally funded,” said Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Daniel Losquadro. “Congressman Zeldin successfully secured more than $20 million, along with another $4 million in state funds, from then Senator Croci, for the replacement of this dangerous, narrow span. I’m very proud that the Town of Brookhaven has been able to shepherd this project through many years of designs, approvals and the final design phase. I am confident we have put together a plan which addresses the needs of our first responders, medical facilities and the general public. Improving Long Island’s infrastructure, which has not kept pace with our growing population, continues to be one of my main priorities.”
“Hospital Road Bridge is a critical artery for Suffolk County residents and a vital lifeline for law enforcement and first responders traveling to Long Island Community Hospital and the North Patchogue Fire Department,” said Congressman Zeldin. “Being that this bridge has been deemed ‘functionally obsolete’, the start of construction for this project is excellent news for the entire community. The integrity of our roads, overpasses and bridges is not only critical for public safety, but a linchpin of job creation and economic growth. I am thrilled that we are well on our way to getting this much needed infrastructure and safety improvement completed for our residents.”
In 2015, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) declared Hospital Road Bridge “functionally obsolete,” meaning it could not handle its traffic demand. The following year, a funding agreement was reached for a $26 million project to widen and make major repairs to Hospital Road Bridge.
The widening project will add additional through travel lanes, turning lanes and sidewalks, as well as include improvements to the intersections with the service roads; the project is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2023.
 |  |