Suffolk County is slated to receive $11.5 million to rehabilitate the Horse Block Road bridge that spans Long Island Avenue in Medford, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Office.
The funding, identified in Cuomo’s proposed state budget, would come from the BRIDGE NY initiative, which is part of a $21.1 billion, multi-year capital plan to upgrade roads, bridges and other vital transportation infrastructure across New York State.
“This is a long overdue project,” county Legislator Rob Calarco said in response to the news. “This is a heavy traveled area by businesses and residents, and the project will improve traffic flow and safety across the bridge. Thank you to Governor Cuomo for allocating the funding.”
Cuomo’s office recently announced two Long Island bridges would get funding through BRIDGE NY, with another $5 million going toward a stretch of Merrick Road over Milburn Creek in Baldwin.
Projects were selected for funding through a competitive process that evaluated the resiliency of each structure; current structural conditions; and the significance and importance of the bridge, including traffic volumes, detour considerations, number and types of businesses served; and impacts on commerce, according to Cuomo’s office.
“Infrastructure is the key to our prosperity and through this program, we are providing funding to local governments in every corner of this state to help ensure their bridges remain reliable, resilient, and able to meet the demands of current and future generations of New Yorkers,” the governor said in a statement.
In total, $1 billion is proposed to be allocated through BRIDGE NY through the state budget, with half the money going toward state-owned bridges, and the other half being directed to local governments for their own projects. About 100 projects were selected.
The program is administered through the Department of Transportation.
Photo: Looking west on Long Island Avenue under the Horse Block Road overpass. (Credit: Michael White/greaterpatchogue.com.)
