New York State is installing new technology to help stop over-height vehicles from entering Long Island parkways in order to prevent dangerous bridge strikes on low parkway overpasses.
Detectors at the top of a ramp will relay an invisible beam that is set at a specific bridge clearance height for the area, according to a statement from the Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office. An over-height vehicle entering would break the beam, triggering a warning message on a full color message sign. The warning will indicate the vehicle is over height and alerts the driver of impending bridge strikes ahead.
A camera linked to the New York State Department of Transportation‘s regional traffic management center will record the incident.
Sites completed through November are:
- Southbound Eagle Avenue to eastbound Southern State Parkway in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County
- Sunrise Highway north service road to westbound Heckscher/Southern State Parkway in the town of Islip, Suffolk County
- Southbound State Route 106/107 to eastbound Northern State Parkway in the town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County
- Northbound State Route 106/107 to eastbound Northern State Parkway in the town of Oyster Bay
- Southbound State Route 106/107 to westbound Northern State Parkway in the town of Oyster Bay
Truck detectors are being installed and expected to be completed in the spring of 2018 at:
- Eastbound Interstate 495/Long Island Expressway ramp to eastbound Northern State Parkway in the town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County
- Westbound Interstate 495/Long Island Expressway ramp to westbound Northern State Parkway in the town of Oyster Bay
- Northbound Peninsula Boulevard to eastbound Southern State Parkway in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County
- Southbound Peninsula Boulevard to westbound Southern State Parkway in the town of Hempstead
- Southbound State Route 135/Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway to westbound Southern State Parkway in the town of Hempstead
- Southbound State Route 111 to westbound Southern State Parkway in the town of Islip, Suffolk County
- Northbound State Route 111 to westbound Southern State Parkway in the town of Islip
- Spur Drive North ramp to westbound Southern State Parkway in the town of Islip
