A NORTH-SOUTH EXPRESSWAY THROUGH CROWDED WESTERN NASSAU: In 1952, the New York State Department of Public Works (NYSDPW) proposed a six-lane, north-south expressway open to all vehicles through western Nassau County. The initial proposed route of the Western Nassau Expressway, which was to run from Atlantic Avenue in Freeport north to Northern Boulevard (NY 25A) in Roslyn, was meet with intense opposition from residents in the area, which was quickly being developed with new homes and businesses.

The proposed 11.5-mile, $45 million expressway would have displaced 365 homes, as well as dozens of businesses, in its route. Instead of constructing the expressway, state officials decided instead to extend the Meadowbrook State Parkway, which previously ended at the Southern State Parkway, north to the Northern State Parkway. The Meadowbrook State Parkway extension, which was open only to passenger cars, opened in 1957.

Nevertheless, the need remained for a limited-access, north-south corridor for western Nassau that would be open to commercial traffic. Plans for a new Western Nassau Expressway, a six-lane limited access route with service roads throughout its entire length, were announced in 1963 by the NYSDPW. From Ralph Herman, frequent contributor to nycroads.com and misc.transport.road:

I do remember there was discussion about using the right-of-way of the West Hempstead branch of the LIRR. Even 30 or 35 years ago, however, I think this route would have been prohibitively expensive and would have sparked intense opposition.

The revised 1963 alignment was to begin at Sunrise Highway (NY 27) in Valley Stream. It was to follow the LIRR West Hempstead branch to West Hempstead, continuing north along an abandoned LIRR right-of-way through the Village of Hempstead. Between Hempstead and Mineola, the expressway was to run parallel and to the east of Franklin Avenue. At Mineola, the expressway would continue north along the LIRR Oyster Bay branch to the Long Island Expressway (I-495). Between the Long Island Expressway and Northern Boulevard (NY 25A), the Western Nassau Expressway was to curve northwest, ending at Middle Neck Road (NY 101) in Port Washington.

The expressway may have been planned to extend further north through Port Washington into Sands Point. One of nine alternative Long Island Sound bridge locations was between Sands Point and New Rochelle, Westchester County. Construction of an expressway to the bridge, however, would have resulted in "severe disruption" in the affected communities.

In 1966, the Tri-State Transportation Commission recommended construction of the Western Nassau Expressway as a "priority project" for completion in 1975. In its report, Transportation 1985: A Regional Plan, the Commission stated the need for this project:

This north-south expressway in western Nassau County will serve densely developed suburbs, including major industrial and commercial centers. By allowing both passenger cars and commercial vehicles, the expressway will not only relieve congested local streets, but also fill in large gap in the regional highway grid.

In 1971, the Nassau-Suffolk Regional Planning Board reiterated its support for the Western Nassau Expressway, but had some doubts on whether it could be constructed:

The Western Nassau Expressway would be a great asset to many portions of the western Nassau County area. Of primary importance would be its assistance in handling the traffic demands that would be placed on the highway system immediately surrounding the Mitchel Field area. In addition, it will provide a direct link to the Long Island Expressway. No matter where this proposed highway would traverse, it would require removal of many sound residential areas. To propose a route location at this time does not seem warranted, since it would only serve to decrease property values, and in the long range this highway may never be built.

For a number of reasons, including the costs of right-of-way and the attendant disruption its acquisition would have entailed, this project never again saw the light of day. What would have been the designation for the proposed expressway? Although there was no official designation given, it is likely that it would have been designated "NY 101." The Western Nassau Expressway may have been intended an extension of the existing NY 101.

THE GLEN COVE ARTERIAL HIGHWAY: In the mid-1960's, there was a modest limited-access highway constructed in the city of Glen Cove. The Glen Cove Arterial Highway, which is designated NY 107, is a one-mile-long, four-lane divided bypass of Glen Street. There are grade separations at Sea Cliff Avenue and Hendrick Avenue, as well as for the LIRR Oyster Bay branch. In addition, there is a northbound entrance and exit at Town Path. At one time, the Glen Cove Arterial Highway may have been planned as part of a much longer north-south expressway through Nassau County.

The northern terminus of the NY 107 bypass is at Glen Cove City Hall. At the southern terminus of the bypass, NY 107 continues south as a surface arterial to Massapequa. Prior to the mid-1960's, the northern terminus of NY 107 (Cedar Swamp Road) was at the southern boundary of Glen Cove. From there, a county designation - CR 107 - continued north along Glen Street.

SOURCES: "Westchester Road Wins Albany Vote, Nassau Bill Is Pending," The New York Times (3/05/1952); Transportation 1985: A Regional Plan, Tri-State Transportation Commission (1969); "Transportation: 1985 Highway Plan," Nassau-Suffolk Regional Planning Board (1970); "Nassau County Comprehensive Plan," Nassau-Suffolk Regional Planning Board (December 1971); "A Comprehensive Transportation Study for Proposed Bridge Crossings," Creighton, Hamburg, Incorporated (December 1971); "Lee Koppelman: The Master Planner" by Marilyn Goldstein, Newsday (8/08/1986); "Ways To Go" by Alison Mitchell, Newsday (9/21/1986); "Planners' Legacy: Long Island's Ghost Highways" by William Bunch, Newsday (9/21/1986); "Back to the Future: LI Updating Master Plan" by Tom Morris, Newsday (3/20/1988); "Highway Hopes That Faded" by Sidney C. Schaer, Newsday (11/05/1999); Ralph Herman.

  • NY 101 and NY 107 shields by Ralph Herman.

WESTERN NASSAU EXPRESSWAY LINKS:

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