‘Safety hazard’ is almost eliminated

A project that was proposed several years ago is finally expected to be completed, and will allow pedestrians to walk on either side of Branch Boulevard without having to detour onto the road. The $500,000 Nassau County Department of Public Works Branch Boulevard sidewalk project stretches from Peninsula Boulevard in Cedarhurst to Hungry Harbor Road in North Woodmere. For years, the sidewalks on both sides of the thoroughfare were cracked or bulging so badly that those on foot were forced to walk in the roadway, sharing the street with vehicles speeding by. This was hazardous for both pedestrians and motorists — and especially for observant Jews, who walk from home to synagogue on Friday night, and again on Saturday for Shabbos.

Except for the planting of trees, the project will be done in time for the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

“I’ve had a lot of interaction with the residents in the area,” said Mark White, an inspector for CSM Consulting, which has repaired the sidewalks. “They love the work and the fact that we’re fixing the sidewalk because we’re making their neighborhood look better and a safer place to live.”

The construction phase of the project, which began in mid-August, was anticipated to be completed by Friday — six days before Rosh Hashana. The tree-planting phase is scheduled to begin on Oct. 15. Installation of the sidewalks was completed on Sept. 16, and paving of the roadway’s shoulder was slated to be done this week. A variety of species of trees, 12 to 15 feet tall, will replace those taken down before the work began, officials said.

Zipporah and Rabbi Arnold Marans, who live on Redwood Drive, off Branch Boulevard, said they have lived in their home for almost 50 years and have not been inconvenienced by the construction. “The workers are nice people,” Zipporah said. “I can’t wait for the trees to be planted.”

Rabbi Marans, the spiritual leader of the Sephardic Temple at 775 Branch Boulevard, said he is pleased that the work is finally being done. “Branch Boulevard has been neglected, and I’m glad the county took the initiative towards beautification,” he said. “They are a wonderful team working on the sidewalk.”

Another nearby resident, who declined to be identified, said she has lived in the area for 20 years, and described the construction as “crazy.” “The noise is horrendous,” the resident said. “I’m looking forward to the trees, though.”

White said that Branch Boulevard residents were notified that they would be unable to park in their driveways for at least three days due to shoulder paving, and they have been parking on nearby side streets. “Residents have not been inconvenienced,” he said.

Initially expected to commence in 2009, the project was delayed when the Republicans returned to power in the county. However, County Legislator Howard Kopel, a Republican from Lawrence, helped to revive the project in order to fix what he called an “enormous safety hazard.”

“I wanted to move forward with the project since I was made aware of the issue, and it was one of the things I talked about when I was running,” Kopel said. “People from the neighborhood said it was an issue, since they couldn’t push their strollers on the

sidewalks.”

As the work nears completion, Kopel said he hopes people are pleased. “It is was a worthy project,” he said. “I hope that the vast majority of people are happy, and I’m very gratified to have gotten it done.”