(Rockville Centre, New York) — Senator Todd Kaminsky urged New York State Department of Transportation (“NYSDOT”) Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez to make the agency’s study of, and modifications to, “Blood Alley” — a dangerous stretch of the Southern State Parkway in the vicinity of the Eagle Avenue exit — a priority in the upcoming year at today’s Transportation Legislative Budget Hearing. Blood Alley is a threat due to its steep inclines, poor visibility and a low-clearance overpass, making for a deadly combination for motorists. 

“Far too many tragedies have occurred on this dangerous stretch of the Southern State Parkway in our community’s midst — and that is simply unacceptable,” said Senator Todd Kaminsky, a member of the Senate Transportation Committee. “It is imperative for state transportation officials to make the necessary upgrades to the Eagle Avenue exit as well as the surrounding roadway a top priority in the new year. Our safety demands nothing less.”

In September, four individuals died and two more were injured when a motorist drove west onto the Southern State’s eastbound lanes, colliding head-on with another car. In 2018, 43 people were injured on the Parkway when a bus carrying high school students slammed into the Eagle Avenue overpass, despite a prohibition on commercial vehicles on the route. A box truck crashed into the same overpass two months later.

In October, Senator Kaminsky sent a letter to Commissioner Dominguez urging NYSDOT to conduct a study of Blood Alley and make the requisite modifications. Since then, NYSDOT agreed to begin the study, with an eye toward making upgrades to enhance the safety of motorists on the Parkway. 

You can watch Senator Kaminsky’s exchange with the NYSDOT Commissioner here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgbRYO_qrzw&feature=youtu.be

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