Drivers at the William Floyd Parkway intersection with Mastic Boulevard will notice a new traffic pattern aimed at improving flow and reducing backups. The changes affect both directions of Mastic Boulevard at Aletta Place near Dunkin’ Donuts.
Mastic Boulevard East, heading west toward William Floyd Parkway, now features two turning lanes. The right lane allows motorists to turn left, right, or continue straight, while the left lane is designated for left turns only.
Mastic Boulevard West, heading east toward the parkway, is now restricted to right turns only onto southbound William Floyd Parkway under the new pattern designed by the County Department of Public Works. Not having to wait for eastbound traffic before turning south onto the parkway is expected to make for a quicker passage of vehicles coming from Montauk Highway.
According to Suffolk Legislator Jim Mazzarella, the new configuration is intended to relieve one of the area’s most congested intersections, especially during rush hours. “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.”
County engineers believe the changes will reduce traffic backups on Aletta Place and ease congestion for southbound parkway traffic. Mazzarella emphasized that the adjustment is a test, not a permanent solution. “The new pattern is not the overall solution,” he said. “But it’s a step toward making things a little better.”
Mazzarella noted that motorists wanting to go north on the parkway from the post office shopping center can continue to use Montauk Highway. He stressed that while the changes will not fully resolve congestion on the Mastic Peninsula, they represent a practical and quickly implemented measure to help traffic move more efficiently.
Engineers are monitoring the intersection and may propose additional improvements in the future.