Bridge over Nicolls Road at Route 347 to begin construction 6 years early in 2028, state officials say

Construction on the Nicolls Road bridge on State Route 347 in South Setauket will come six years earlier than planned, but is still three years away, the state transportation commissioner said Friday in Hauppauge.

Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said the department has moved up the timeline to build the overpass bridge to 2028. The work was originally scheduled for 2034.

Nicolls Road is now at a signaled intersection at Route 347 near a busy shopping center. The new overpass will reduce travel times for drivers, officials said, and is set to be completed by 2031.

Dominguez did not give a reason for why the timeline was accelerated. The Department of Transportation and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said the project would minimize future construction costs.

The project, which is being designed, will cost between $110 million and $140 million, Dominguez said. It is part of an overhaul of Route 347, for which the state has already spent $200 million on improvements.

"As you all know, we've been working on 347 in phases. This is the next phase. It's a really important phase," Dominguez said. "The bottom line is it's coming six years early to a highway very near you."

Construction will continue one mile east of Nicolls Road through Mark Tree Road, which is expected to improve traffic and access for emergency vehicles traveling to Stony Brook University Hospital, officials said. Nicolls Road runs from Montauk Highway in Bayport to State Route 25A.

State officials called Route 347 an "antiquated highway" that is being modernized with solar powered lighting, bus stops and green medians. Transportation workers said six projects from Veterans Memorial Highway to Hallock Road and State Route 112 have been completed. Work is planned in the summer to rebuild the road between Hallock Road and Nicolls Road.

"This overpass will bring a new driving experience to those who live, work and commute in Suffolk County, and I’m looking forward to seeing its completion," Hochul said. "By accelerating this project, we are not only improving safety and efficiency for motorists, but we are also strengthening Long Island’s infrastructure to support future growth and economic development."

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.