West Broadway repairs planned for 2016

A three-phase plan will be implemented next year to repave and replace curbs and sidewalks along West Broadway from Hewlett through Cedarhurst, according to County Legislator Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence).
The project’s engineering design is being finalized by DPW, then the county will put the project out to bid, Kopel said. The cost of the project is unknown at this time. It will paid for out of the county’s capital budget, Kopel said. Nassau County’s Department of Public Works will do patching of the potholes and cracks that exist along West Broadway this year.
The first stage of the project will be from Broadway to Woodmere Boulevard; then from Woodmere Boulevard to Cedarhurst Avenue and from Cedarhurst Avenue to Rockaway Turnpike.
“The repairs this year will make it useable until the big projects gets done,” Kopel said. “I am looking forward to getting the shovel in the ground.”
Woodmere resident Dr. Ari Weinrib brought the condition of West Broadway to Kopel’s attention a couple of years ago. Not seeing any improvements being made, Weinrib collected signatures of community members on a petition last month.

“My neighbors and I are just so thrilled,” Weinrib said. “It’s gratifying to see that community advocacy really does work,” referring to the petition that had nearly 100 signatures. “And I appreciate that Legislator Kopel really did deliver what he promised.” Kopel, who is running for re-election this year, had previously said that he had “arranged for it to be done” after being made aware of resident complaints.
Due to the broken curbs, sidewalks and potholes in the roadway it made navigating West Broadway difficult for the many Orthodox Jews who walk to shul along the roadway, Weinrib said.
In addition to the reconstruction of West Broadway, Weinrib would like to see the removal of the unused utility poles that line the street. “It is a shame that the local utilities, PSEG Long Island, Verizon and Cablevision do not bother to remove old poles and wires that remain, then become a blight on our neighborhoods,” he said. “There should be legislation passed that compels utilities to be responsible for their equipment, and to remove it where it is unneeded.”
There are several sites along West Broadway where two utility poles stand next to each other. The poles are doubled up because not all the telephone and cable television companies have moved their equipment and wires to the newer poles, PSEG Long Island spokesman Jeffrey Weir said.
Identifying markers that indicate which utility originally installed the pole are usually place about five feet up a pole, Weir said. Double-pole locations can be reported to PSEG Long Island and he said the information will be forwarded to the appropriate utility.
Another Woodmere resident, Yishai Honig said that he would also like to see more trees planted along West Broadway, as well as having the unneeded utility poles taken down. “My number one concern though, is that there is consideration for the fact that many children walk along West Broadway,” he said. “I am hoping that ample sidewalk space and real curbs are allotted between the traffic and walking areas.”

Have an opinion about West Broadway repairs or utility poles? Send your letter to the editor to jbessen@liherald.com.