For those of us who grew up here, the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway was a kind of asphalt after-thought.
It was the brainchild of urban mastermind Robert Moses, whose original plan included NY 135 to stretch from the South Shore into Oyster Bay and then slice across Long Island Sound northwesterly and terminate in Rye, N.Y. The Plainview-Syosset section opened in 1962, and it still feels a little unfinished.
Imagine: Plainview to Rye Playland in about 30 minutes. No battling Bronx traffic and the hit-and-miss fortunes of the Throgs Neck or Whitestone bridges.
Needless to say, the plan met virulent opposition both in Westchester and along Long Island's affluent North Shore. When it was still fairly new, the highway seemed to go nowhere, a lonely connector to some other highway that got you where you needed to go.
The 10.7 mile roadway stretches from Merrick Road in Seaford to Jericho Turnpike in Syosset. It is much busier now and, from time to time, new proposals for its expansion are floated, including a tunnel to Rye and a ferry to Stamford. All have gone nowhere.
On Tuesday, the state spent the better part of the day doing roadwork along the entire length of the southbound expressway's left lane. The work ended by evening. Perhaps there are other improvements you'd like to see?
What's your idea for the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway?
What would be the best way to improve the highway or one of its exits?
Where would you like to see it extended to?
Take our poll and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
