By:Laura Lane
For years residents say Clubhouse Road has been in disrepair, plagued with potholes that create dangerous driving conditions.
About two years ago, the Town of Hempstead agreed to repave the road and make any necessary repairs. Though residents say the town surveyed and scraped the street, no other work took place and potholes continued to be a problem.
Since 2001, there have been 75 accidents on Clubhouse Road near the Merrick Road intersection, 90 when counting the accidents in the adjoining parking lots, according to the Nassau County Police Department Traffic Safety unit. Accidents could be a function of the road's conditions, which often cause traffic to slow up to avoid the gaping holes.
"They always fill [the potholes]," said former resident Jamie Levey. "But when it snows, it's worse after they plow and I worry that I might get a flat. I mean I'm thinking, 'What did it just do to my car?'"
Levey had lived on Clubhouse Road for 26 years before recently moving. Her parents still live there, however, and she visits often. "When they fill it it's a little bit better, but don't we pay enough in taxes to have this fixed?" she said.
While the town had no explanation for the two-year delay on the work slated for Clubhouse Road, they insisted the project is still in the works.
"Supervisor Kate Murray and Angie Cullin are committed to the Clubhouse Road project," said Susie Trenkel, a town spokeswoman. "It is in the 2004-2005 capital budget."
Trenkel added that the bidding process for contractors would begin in the fall and the project should be underway by spring 2005.
Neal Mann, who has lived on Clubhouse Road for the last 12 years, said he'd welcome the improvements. "It's always rough when you make that turn," he said. "You have to drive slow and be careful. In the winter after the ice and snow they're always slow to fix up the potholes."
