Op/Ed: What's Taking the LIRR So Long?

Editor's Note: The following was written by Bruce King, the president of the Hampton Bays Civic Association, in response to an article published on the LIRR bridge reconstruction project that was published on Patch on Monday.

I am wondering why the LIRR hasn't finished a job to reconstruct the Hampton Bays bridges in a timely manner.

The two concrete railroad overpasses were raised with the corresponding raising of the approaches (E&W) to accommodate. Then, only an occasional worker or two could be seen on either bridge. True, a work crew was sandblasting and painting the canal bridge, but these were different workers. I also noticed outside contractors (non-LIRR) workers at both sites. Why can’t the LIRR put some pressure on the contractor to complete the job started prior to moving on to the next job?

The North Road is blocked off under the over pass, again, thus limiting travel for all who live on one side and wish to do something on the other. When it is open, it is a travel safety concern due to the confined passage. The Montauk Highway pass-through is similarly restricted although not as dangerous as it is of a newer design (1927 as opposed to 1907).

I once worked for a woman who was superintendent of a school district in western Suffolk. When the main project contractor told her the school construction would not be completed by start of school in September, she put so much pressure on him that it was completed on time (no extra cost was incurred). The LIRR could take some lessons from that superintendent.

Related Reading:

• LIRR Bridge Construction Continues; Busses to Replace Trains This Week