DOT: Businesses Not Complaining About Route 347 Construction

Despite a lot of grumbling, New York State Department of Transportation says not a single complaint has been filed by Hauppauge businesses about Route 347 construction. 

Hauppauge business owners who spoke with Patch said as heavy traffic caused by a $26.8 million improvement project has discouraged customers from shopping in their stores.

owner Gus Panagatos said he had lost 30 percent of his customers while Fred Cavalli, owner of estimated his business has dropped by between 40 and 50 percent during the last six months.

"The staff for the NYSDOT Region 10 project have not received a single complaint from any business regarding this project in well over a year," said Eileen Peters, spokeswoman for Long Island DOT, in a statement.

Peters asked that any residents and businesses who have issues or concerns reach out to Margaret Conklin, the DOT's regional public involvement coordinator, by calling 631-952-6929 or emailing R10-RPIC@dot.state.ny.us.

"NYSDOT is doing everything feasible to minimize the impact on businesses, motorists and residents during construction of this major $26.8 million project, including maintaining access to each business; maintain pedestrian traffic at all time and conducting construction activities that require multiple lane closures during night-time  hours," Peters said.

DOT officials were unable to give any estimation of how much of the Route 347 construction work is happening at night after businesses have closed. However, they did ensure the state contractor has clear and precise limitations on what road closures are allowed during daylight hours, those that could potentially cause traffic and loss of business.

Peters said daytime road closure times were determined based upon daily/hourly traffic flow volumes, then reviewed by safety engineers during the plan development.

The state contractor's provisions for allowed road closure include:

• A single lane closed on eastbound Route 347 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday.
• A single lane can be closed on Route 347 westbound from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday.
• An additional single lane, making for two lanes and full road closure is permitted on the Route 347 eastbound from 10 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Route 347 westbound from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Sunday to Thursday.
• A single lane of Route 111/Wheeler Road may be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday.

DOT engineers said some of the work crews have performed at night include gas main and water main work at various locations on Route 347 and Route 111. Future night construction may include the installation of storm water drainage structures and pipes as well as asphalt paving.

Dan Braet, owner ofin the Hauppauge Shopping Center, questioned why more construction couldn't be completed at night. DOT officials said that would be difficult for fiscal reasons.

"If any of the contract requirements are changed by NYSDOT, it would incur additional expenses and delays including potential claims/challenges by the contractor," said Peters in a written statement.

As for those businesses forced to close June 29 after , which DOT disputes was a service line, Peters said while the state contractor is required to carry insurance the unusually shallow line - less than 10 inches underground - could make claims difficult to substantiate. Business owners should try to recover money through their own insurance.

The DOT is on schedule to complete the Route 347 improvement project by August 2012, should there be no severe weather events or other unforeseen delays. By its completion, Route 347 will be expanded to three lanes of traffic in each direction with a bike/pedestrian lane on the south side of the roadway.