Riverside Traffic Circle Will Receive Upgrade
Despite the initial delay, the Riverside traffic circle will finally get the upgrade it so badly deserves.
The Suffolk County Legislature on June 2 amended the 2016 to 2018 proposed capital budget to restore $4 million in 2016 to fund the reconfiguration of the Riverside traffic circle to a two-lane roundabout. The funding had been delayed until 2018 in County Executive Steve Bellone’s proposed capital budget.
The Riverside community rallied in favor of restoring the money along with many community leaders including Suffolk Legislator Jay Schneiderman, Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst and Southampton Town Council members Bridget Fleming, Brad Bender and Christine Scalera. The reconfiguration of the traffic circle is seen as a vital first step in revitalizing the blighted Riverside community.
“Riverside is the most economically stressed community on Long Island,” Schneiderman said.
The Riverside traffic circle will be transformed into a two-lane oval roundabout with sidewalks and crosswalks. This reconfiguration will improve pedestrian safety, traffic flow, and drainage in the area. Upgrading the traffic circle will be a major step in the community’s revitalization.
“Without all of the community support, this project could have been derailed for years,” Schneiderman said.
“I look forward to working together with the Town of Southampton to make sure that we can advance the Riverside Traffic Circle in 2016,” Bellone said. “We will review manpower in the Suffolk County Department of Public Works to make sure that we are able to move this project forward.”