Major Spring Redo For Springs Fireplace Road

Springs Fireplace Road is stepping into the 21st Century with a major renovation and reconstruction project paid for by Suffolk County slated for spring of 2020.

East Hampton Town Board member Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, the Town of East Hampton’s liaison on the project, said one major change will be the creation of a five-foot-wide, handicap-accessible sidewalk that will run from Springs Fireplace Road at North Main Street all the way up to Woodbine Drive. While the road is not wide enough from North Main Street to Abrahams Path to add a dedicated bike lane, there will be a five-foot shoulder area. North of Abrahams Path will have a dedicated bike lane.

Burke-Gonzalez said she’s been meeting with county highway department officials, and shared with them the town’s hamlet studies for East Hampton and Springs. The department has incorporated the goals of the studies into its plans for the roadway also known as County Road 40.

Come 2022, the county will turn its attention to Three Mile Harbor Road, also known as County Road 41. That roadway is wide enough for a dedicated bike lane from North Main Street to Copeces Lane. Bikers will eventually be able to pedal on a dedicated bike lane from East Hampton Village to northern Springs by going up Three Mile Harbor Road, then cutting over on either Abrahams Path or Copeces Lane to Springs Fireplace Road.

The project will cost between $6 million and $7 million to complete. County Supervisor Steve Bellone signed off on legislation in May authorizing the first $1 million for the project, which is currently out to bid, Burke-Gonzalez said.

t.e@indyeastend.com