By Danny Teigman
- especially along the frequently clogged Atlantic Avenue-Main Street corridor, where a delay of more than two months in a Long Island Power Authority construction project is complicating the usual logjam.
Keegan, who lives on West Boulevard in Bay Park, said that the traffic nightmare has forced her to change her driving and shopping habits. Although she still goes to Pathmark on Atlantic Avenue - in the heart of the congestion - once a week, she shops early in the morning or late at night to minimize her chances of getting stuck in traffic. She has also reduced her trips into neighboring Oceanside. "I don't even go to Kohl's," Keegan said. "I think other stores in Oceanside may be losing business, too."
Adding to motorists' traffic misery, orange construction signs announcing a Dec. 1 completion date were removed only two weeks ago, said Karen Profitlich, an Alexine Avenue resident whose street is also part of the project. "It's been very inconvenient," Profitlich said. "You can't get in and out of the block. I have not gotten one piece of information [about] anyone doing work."
LIPA spokesman Michael Lowndes said the project, which began last September and extends along Oceanside's Lawson Boulevard, involves replacing an electric transmission cable and its liquid-based coolant with a solid-based one. The nontoxic mineral oil fluid has leaked on occasion, Lowndes said, but the newer solid coolant, which is made from the same material, will greatly reduce the risk of any more material escaping into the surrounding soil or water table. The project marks the first time in decades that the 138-kilovolt cable has been entirely replaced.
Several setbacks, including equipment delays, difficulty coordinating multiple contractors and the frigid temperatures earlier this month have prolonged the project, Lowndes said. The revised timetable calls for coolant replacement to be completed by Feb. 20. Road surface repairs, however, will not be finished until early spring, weather permitting.
"We'd hoped to have this project done by now," Lowndes said. "We're doing everything possible to move this project along as quick as possible, and [residents] will have resolution within just a few weeks ... we're asking the community to have a bit of patience with us and we'll be out of there soon."
Last summer, LIPA replaced a section of pipe on Lawson Boulevard that was leaking. In June of 2004, Long Island American Water made similar repairs along the same stretch of road.
Thanks to the efforts of Alexine resident Marilyn Acquafredda, there was a meeting Monday night at LIPA's Hewlett office so residents could express their concerns to company officials. Like Profitlich, Acquafredda is frustrated by LIPA's lack of progress, late-night truck noise and what she describes as the authority's unhelpful responses.
"A few weeks ago, a truck blew a gasket late at night, and it sounded like a big explosion," she said. "Nobody explains anything to you. The workers leave their garbage all around."
Dennis McCabe, East Rockaway's clerk-treasurer, said he sympathized with residents' concerns, because LIPA has also kept village officials largely in the dark. "They update us very infrequently," McCabe said. "We're frustrated because our residents are frustrated."
"They said Dec. 1 and here we are at Feb. [15] and there are still two big holes on Alexine Avenue," McCabe added. "...These are state agencies, and they answer to a higher power."
Joe Kellard contributed to this story. Comments about it? DTeigman@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 246.
