Less than a week after our public meeting at Eastridge High School, the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) has agreed to modify the new traffic pattern on Route 590 in direct response to the safety concerns of residents and motorists in the area.

With winter fast approaching, DOT workers and consultants wasted no time redesigning the lanes over the past week. As a result, today I joined DOT officials to announce four major improvements that will be made, which should address most of the safety concerns expressed:

1. The southbound merge lane from Sea Breeze Drive into 590 will be extended by nearly a half-mile. This new left merge was widely considered to be the most dangerous of the new lane changes. By adding 2,500 feet to the left lane, drivers will have much more time to merge right after the crest of the hill entering 590 South. Highway crews began making this change today.

2. A second lane will be restored for northbound traffic from 590 to Sea Breeze Drive after the East Ridge Road overpass. This will eliminate the forced merge with traffic entering from East Ridge Road and will maintain two lanes entering the Titus Ave roundabout. This change will be made immediately.

3. A second lane will be restored for southbound traffic on Sea Breeze Drive from the Titus Ave roundabout to the East Ridge Road exit. This new design has not yet been completely finalized so the timeframe for completion is not certain.

4. A third lane will be restored on 590 North after the 104 West exit ramp. This will allow for traffic to East Ridge Road and Sea Breeze Drive to proceed in the two left lanes, while the right lane will continue to be an exit for 104 East to Webster. Unfortunately, weather restrictions for the type of striping necessary to ensure traffic safety will not allow this change to be completed until next spring. Public notification will be given in advance of implementation.

By no means will these modifications result in a the perfect solution that will appease everyone. However, given the physical limitations involved, they are a significant improvement that will increase safety dramatically.

I would like to commend DOT Acting Director Bob Traver and his team for their rapid attention to this issue and for their willingness to address the legitimate safety concerns raised by our community.

And I would also like to thank all of you who spoke up on this issue. As a result, I believe we will have safer roadways and improved traffic flow for everyone who uses these highways.