Finding Alternate Paths Around Route 347 Construction

Construction along Route 347 might temporarily worsen the issue aims to relieve: severe traffic congestion and delays that sends drivers in a rush into Hauppauge's residential roadways.

Over the past 10 months, a one-mile stretch of Route 347 from the Route 347/454 interchange to Route 111 has been plagued by traffic delays as motorists encounter lane closures from the construction designed to transform the roadway into

In September 2010, New York State Department of Transportation issued an advisory to motorists that single travel lanes of Route 347 would be closed during the off-peak, mid-day hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. westbound and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. eastbound on Mondays through Fridays to allow construction to take place.

DOT spokeswoman Eileen Peters said drivers might encounter an additional 5 to 10-minute delay to travel the one-mile stretch.

"We urge people if they don't want to get caught up in a possible delay, to take a different route from the onset," Peters said.

When Patch asked readers for their readers had concerns about reckless drivers using residential roads.

“We already have reckless drivers taking our street as a short cut. They speed right past the children walking in the street to the school bus. We all know this project was going to be a huge inconvenience – let us not turn it into another tragedy for the community,” one commentator said.

Peters said reducing residential traffic was one of the primary reasons behind the Route 347 reconstruction project.

“It was one of the frequent complaints we heard over a number of years, that people are tired of the traffic during rush hours and drivers cutting through neighborhood streets,” she said. The reconstruction is intended to address that, to provide a smoother commute, and if traffic is alleviated people will not be tempted to cut through the local neighborhoods.”

Patch staff has mapped out a few suggestions for routes around the construction zone that rely mostly on commercial and industrial roadways:

• Hauppauge Spur to Kings Park Path (red): Drivers headed eastbound on Route 347 can cut south on Hauppauge Spur, the access roadway to the New York State and Suffolk County buildings, to Kings Highway. Turn east on Kings Highway to towards Wheeler Road/Route 111. Be careful using this path on evenings and weekends, as the Hauppauge Youth Organization’s Sports Complex is on the corner of the Hauppauge Spur and Kings Highway intersection.
• Hauppauge Spur to Rabro Drive (orange): Similar to the path above, motorist can drive south on Hauppauge Spur until it changes into Simeon Woods Drive, then turn east on Rabro Drive which intersects with Wheeler Drive/Route 111.
• Old Willets Path(green): Old Willets Path intersects the western portion of Route 347 and runs north to south. This road largely borders commercial or industrial areas with connections to Motor Parkway, New Highway and Jericho Turnpike/Route 25 in Smithtown. Drivers should pay attention to the speed limit and traffic signals when passing through its residential areas.

Another option, as one commenter said, is for drivers to leave the house early, take a few deep breaths and enjoy music in your car while waiting in traffic.