Northport village to improve 12 crosswalks

Work on improving 12 crosswalks in the Village of Northport with the help of a federal grant is anticipated to begin next year.

The crosswalks, located on Main Street and Ocean and Woodbine avenues, have been slated for upgrades with more than $68,000 in federal money earmarked for the village in 2005. The upgrades would improve curb cuts and visibility, making the sidewalks and streets easier for those with disabilities to use.

Last week, the Northport Village Board voted to authorize spending $1,900 to alter the conceptual design work done by firm Gannett Fleming to address some changes required by the state Department of Transportation.

Once the alterations are approved by the state, the village can begin actual design work, said village administrator Gene Guido. Work will likely begin next year, he said.

The issue was the subject of a Newsday Community Watchdog story last month, in which a village resident had complained for years that too-steep curb cuts on Main Street kept her from accessing the sidewalk with her wheelchair. The DOT had said it had not received any plans from the village for the improvements, while the village maintained that it had sent the plans.