Motorists frustrated by chronic tie-ups on William Floyd Parkway may soon see some relief under a new traffic pattern being implemented by the county in about two weeks.
Following an engineering review by the Department of Public Works, Mastic Boulevard East will be converted into a three-lane street near Aletta Place by Dunkin’ Donuts and Roma Funeral Home. This will allow a second left-turning lane onto the parkway for those coming from the east.
Those heading east from the post office shopping center will only be allowed to make a right and go south on William Floyd. Keeping these cars out of the intersection will also help the traffic flow, county engineers say.
Suffolk Legislator Jim Mazzarella said adding an additional turning lane is designed to ease one of the county’s most congested intersections, especially during the afternoon rush. “We’re going to try it and see how it works,” Mazzarella said. “Hopefully, this helps since two lanes will allow more vehicles to turn onto the parkway.”
Currently, a limited number of cars can get through the 45-second traffic light at the intersection. The eastbound part of Mastic Boulevard East will remain, allowing northbound parkway traffic to make a right turn. Those looking to go north on the parkway from the shopping center can go out the main entrance onto Montauk Highway.
Mazzarella cautioned that the change is a test run, not a permanent fix for the peninsula’s long-standing traffic woes. With just two main routes out of the Mastic Peninsula, local officials have pleaded with the Long Island Rail Road to add grade crossings to relieve the bottlenecks, only to be rejected.
“The new pattern is not the overall solution,” Mazzarella stressed. “But it’s a step toward making things a little better.”