State Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City) praised the DOT’s commitment to enhancing safety on the road, which runs through his district, which includes East Meadow, Levittown and Uniondale. “Pedestrian safety along Hempstead Turnpike is of paramount importance,” Hannon said, “and I commend Commissioner McDonald and the DOT for adding further improvements to what was already a significant pedestrian safety improvement project.”

The initiatives announced in the second phase of the project will require further study, according to the DOT. Once the study is under way, construction of the medians and installation of the new traffic signals will begin as soon as possible.