347 Project

FROM COUNCILMEMBER JONATHAN KORNREICH

Our office, along with many people in the community, was surprised to see the start of work on a NYS project at the corner of Nicolls Rd and Route 347.  In an effort to provide information to our residents, we reached out to our contacts at NYS and got the following information:

This work is part of the NYS Route 347 Safety and Mobility Improvement Project, which aims to widen the road and add a bike path. Construction is expected to begin around June of this year. The cleared site is part of the overall project and will still be a stormwater recharge basin, although they will be increasing the size somewhat.

Once construction on the project is complete, replanting efforts will begin. It will certainly take a few years for new trees to grow to similar heights as those that were recently removed.

Another important note: the tree clearing was timed to align with the hibernation period of the federally and state listed endangered Long Eared Bat. The Department of Environmental Conservation required tree clearing to be done during this window of time to minimize disruption to the bat population. We appreciate everyone’s patience. Please feel free to contact my office at 631-451-6963 for any questions.