Kaminsky, Miller Announce Completion of Nassau Expressway Bike Lane Repairs

From left to right: Michael Fragin, Deputy Mayor of Lawrence, Uri Kaufman- Lawrence Trustee, Assemblywoman Missy Miller, Senator Kaminsky, Mayor Edelman of Lawrence, and Lawrence residents/cyclists Yosef Nussbaum and Mark Rubin.

(Lawrence, New York) — Today, Senator Todd Kaminsky and Assemblymember Melissa “Missy” Miller announced the completion of repair work to two sections of the bike path at the southern part of the Nassau Expressway (NY878). The reconstruction came after a request from the officials to the New York State Department of Transportation to investigate the condition of the pathway and to make necessary repairs after the matter was brought to his attention by Lawrence resident Yosef Nussbaum and other constituents. 

“Government has a responsibility to ensure that the bike paths and walkways provided to our residents are safe, passable and in good condition,” said Senator Todd Kaminsky, a member of the Senate Transportation Committee. “I am grateful to Yosef for bringing this matter to my attention and to the New York State DOT for taking swift action to address the matter. NY878’s adjacent bike path serves as a direct recreational path to the beach for countless Five Towns residents and they deserve to take advantage of this path safely.” 

“I am grateful that we have responsible neighbors like Yosef Nussbaum, who take the time to reach out to us when there is an issue that could be dangerous,” said Assemblymember Missy Miller. “The 878 bicycle path gets a lot of bicycle and pedestrian use, and the labyrinth of potholes made the path unsafe for all to navigate. In these unusual times, with more people seeking outdoor activities, bicyclists and pedestrians including many families with strollers, are using this path. I am very pleased that the NYS DOT responded in such a timely manner and the path is repaired.” 

Prior to the repair work, the bike path approaching the Seagirt Boulevard exit heading southbound was riddled with potholes resulting in an extremely dangerous -- if not outright impassable -- ride for bikers. This issue was exacerbated by the fact that during the evening, there are currently no streetlights on that stretch of roadway. 

“The 878 bicycle path, used by hundreds daily, had become a hazard for pedestrians and cyclists alike,” says Lawrence Deputy Mayor Michael Fragin. “Thanks to the persistence of our state senator, Todd Kaminsky and Assemblywoman Missy Miller, we are pleased that it has been freshly repaved.” 

"As an avid cyclist who utilizes the bike path along NY878 with my family regularly, it was immediately apparent that the state of repair of the designated path connecting Lawrence and Atlantic Beach, was hazardous to all bikers," says Lawrence resident Yosef Nussbaum. "I'm glad that Senator Kaminsky and Assemblywoman Miller were able to prioritize this safety issue for Five Towns residents and push for the repairs to this busy bike path. The speed and efficiency of getting this job done, especially as more residents are using the path on a daily basis due to Covid-19, is truly commendable."

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