Long Island's Ocean Parkway reopened for the morning rush Monday with some lane and speed restrictions.
The 15.5-mile road was closed after it sustained "unprecedented damage" during Sandy, Gov. Andrew Cuomo had said. The parkway provides access to Jones Beach, Robert Moses State Park, other popular recreational sites and residential communities along a stretch of the southern shore.
According to a press release from Cuomo's office:
- Two-way traffic operations with a single lane in each direction will be established on the undamaged westbound side of Ocean Parkway for 4.8 miles between Cedar Beach and Tobay Beach. Westbound traffic will be reduced to a single lane near Cedar Beach until west of Tobay Beach. Eastbound traffic will transition from three travel lanes to one travel lane near Tobay Beach, then crossover to the westbound roadway using an existing center median turnaround. At Cedar Beach, eastbound traffic will then be directed back to the eastbound roadway using an existing median turnaround. The roadway will operate as normal in both directions for nearly 4 miles between the Wantagh State Parkway/Jones Beach water tower and Tobay Beach.
- The speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph for the entire length of the roadway. Drivers are urged to use caution while traveling this area and be prepared to stop. The eastbound Ocean Parkway roadway between Tobay and Cedar beach will remain closed until restoration is completed.
State and federal agencies are working to develop a coastal barrier protection roadway repair project to restore Ocean Parkway to its pre-storm condition, Cuomo said.
