LIRR begins work to replace Colonial Road Bridge

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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LIRR

The Long Island Rail Road's $45-million Colonial Road Improvement Project is now underway. The Colonial Road Bridge will close to vehicular traffic March 30 and contractors prepare to demolish the 115-year old bridge that spans the tracks in the Village of Thomaston near the LIRR's Great Neck Station.

 

Colonial Road is scheduled to be closed for one year while the LIRR builds a new bridge, makes significant improvements to drainage problems at track level by building a new retaining wall and extends an existing pocket track to improve operational flexibility.

“The improvements will not only provide the community with a safer bridge, the extended pocket track will enable the LIRR to turn trains faster and provide better rush hour service from Great Neck and stations west of Great Neck on the busy Port Washington Branch,” said LIRR President Patrick Nowakowski.

The LIRR’s construction plan was developed in close consultation with Village of Thomaston and local residents, as well as neighboring villages in the Great Neck area, the Town of North Hempstead and Nassau County, as well as the New York State Department of Transportation. The entire project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2018.

“The new bridge will be constructed to keep the existing Colonial Road alignment and all traffic signs and traffic notification will be in place in advance of closure to help make sure motorists are steered to alternative routes,” Nowakowski said.

 

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