New crosswalks coming to Oyster Bay's downtown

Crosswalks in downtown Oyster Bay will be getting a new look.

Town officials plan to spend $750,000 to replace a dozen crosswalks in the hamlet, in an effort to spruce up the downtown area and improve pedestrian safety.

The new-look crosswalks will be stamped concrete in a red brick pattern, according to town spokesman Brian Nevin.

Curb ramps also will be replaced, he said. 

Once town board members select a project contractor, construction is expected to start when temperatures won’t interfere with the work, Nevin said.

The town will pay for the project with a $250,000 grant from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, the public finance and construction authority, and a $500,000 grant from the New York State Department of Transportation.

“This project will help beautify our downtown and create a safe zone for pedestrians and bicyclists,” Supervisor Joseph Saladino said in a statement.

He added the changes should encourage motorists to drive slower and attract more visitors downtown.

Rob Brusca, a board member of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce, called the project “another substantial step in the continued improvement of the hamlet.” 

Meredith Maus, executive director of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, said the nonprofit is “incredibly pleased that the proposed crosswalks will serve to enhance the overall aesthetics of the downtown and improve the downtown’s overall walkability, which will only serve to improve foot traffic to our local businesses.”