We still think the bridge could somehow have been SAVED since we have TEP funds to improve the bridge and put up safety fencing along the edges. The county revived plans to improve and widen the overall road area due to the Tanger Mall, and there is still no guarantee the trail will be built. The Suffolk County Department of Public Works completed an inspection to determine the structural conditions and found it to be in reasonably good condition. They will have the funds in 2010 to begin work on a replacement. They have been great to work with and we hope to continue the dialogue. We would like to move ahead with looking at various backup funding sources for this vital project.
Other trails or bike lanes intersecting with the old bridge could be added later as part of road improvement projects,
and enhance the area by providing a safe
crossing alternative for bicyclists, walkers, and runners to use the excellent facilities at the Edgewood preserve
without using a motor vehicle to get there. Reusing the existing Old Commack Road within the preserve as part of a trail
system is possible since we already have had the potholes repaired... A BIG thanks to Babylon, Huntington, and DEC!),
and most of the old concrete road surface is in excellent condition. Another asphalt road leads to the proposed Pilgrim
redevelopment, about half of it has already been repaved east of the new power plants.
Since Huntington has proposed a large truck ban on Commack road, it would improve the local area's rideability and
walkability. Also, the proposed bike lanes and trails might encourage people to ride bicycles to the overcrowded LIRR
station instead of taking cars. Secure bike lockers could provided at the station.
The old bridge
had great potential for re-use as a safe crossing point on Commack Road (CR4). This structure has been abandoned for over
40 years.
but remained in relatively good condition. It used to connect a series of trails that allowed people to hike or mountain bike through at least 6 miles of interconnected trails and more are possible. Removal of this bridge will disconnect
this vital recreational resource from the community and almost require a car to access the Edgewood preserve, since it
is difficult to cross the heavily traveled Commack road during normal hours. You can walk from Otsego park to this bridge
(up until June 13th 2009) and safely cross the road into the preserve, and the Verizon phone line has been raised to make
way for demo equipment
We have studied the corridor in great detail and have found a way to connect the trail over a new bridge to the proposed LI Motor Parkway Historic recreational trail proposed for Nassau County. The original alignment of the old parkway ran from Queens, through central Nassau, and crossed into Suffolk in the Melville area. Much of the original corridor still exists, and a link to this corridor along the LIPA lines that run just west of Carl's Path in Dix Hills is part of the revised plan. The initial trail project (NYDOT off-road corridor 16) is supported by the Motor Parkway Panel and LIGHT (Long Island Greenways and Healthy Trails.) For more details on the LI Motor Parkway, click on the links below!
This trail system could also eventually be connected to a proposed trail that would start at the Pilgrim/Heartland complex and continue along the Sunken Meadow parkway into the park, enabling anyone to ride from Deer Park, Dix Hills, and the adjacent areas up to the north shore. Additional paths to the south shore, where the 13 mile Ocean parkway bikepath construction is now supposed to begin in 2011, are also desirable and feasible. As part of the LIGHT project #1 it could head west following the LIPA right of way and connect to the proposed Motor Parkway trail as well. In fact LIGHT held a ride last year and proved it already possible to ride most of this route, although it is not safe or recommended due to the fact you are trespassing and several really steep and treacherous hills exist in a few areas. If people write or speak to their county, state and local officials, we WILL make it happen!
Unfortunately, Suffolk County HAS torn down the bridge, considering it to be a hazard to
high and wide trucks, even though it appears to meet all the height requirements . Hundreds of trucks used to pass safely
underneath it daily without incident.
It cost about $150,000 to tear down this historic structure that was built during WWII (1941) for purposes long
forgotton. The cost of repair would likely have been about $80,000, including repairing chipped concrete and rebar, installing
safety fencing, and painting over grafitti. We urge everyone to get in touch with us and get involved in efforts to replace
this bridge as soon as possible, and help plan the the trails and bikepaths that will enhance the area instead of bringing
in more traffic.
We also support preservation of any available lands adjacent to the Edgewood preserve. Much development is proposed for the area, so working with the local officials and the developers we hope to ensure that sufficient open space is protected and enjoyable facilities for walkers, bikers, hikers and bladers are part of the plans. Up to 9,000 apartments and a 15 to 18 story office tower are planned for part of the the former Pilgrim site, but the good news is that none of this traffic will be using Commack road as part of the current plans. Several structures, such as the ornate water tower, powerhouse and old doctors residences will be retained. Pilgrim will continue to operate into the forseeable future.
The new LI aquarium is also being planned on part of the former Pilgrim site. It would be nice if local residents had a safe bike and pedestrian access route to this and other new recreational attractions, instead of being forced into their vehicles for the short ride to this complex. A comprehensive bike plan for western Suffolk should be created, and reconstruction of this bridge will mean there is a safe place for children, as well as adults, to cross the dangerous Commack road below. We have discussed the bridge and trail network with many local leaders and the owners of Heartland. All have agreed this is a good idea and could help to get people out of cars and onto trails, helping to clear the air and improve eveyone's health. Linking to the abandoned sections of the Motor Parkway is just the beginning: we hope to convince planners that a reconstruction of the Sagtikos should include a bike trail to the south shore... if this is done concurrently with road reconstruction the costs will be minimal. We could EASILY get a loop recreational trail that could take you to Robert Moses Beach, Cedar Beach, Gilgo, Tobay, and Jones Beach Before you head up the Wantagh Parkway and pick up the old Motor Parkway and head back to Edgewood.A list of legislative E-mail contacts has been added to the bottom of the web page. Please write or e-mail these and other officials to show your support! We WILL need your help!
Use or reuse of facilities such as abandoned roads and railroad rights of way, old bridges, utility routes, parks,
undeveloped lands, abandoned parcels set aside for unbuilt roads, etc need to be considered. Future developments can be
required to set aside greenspaces to eventually be linked together.
Transportation and recreational facilities should be fun to use, safe, encourage participation of more people of all ages,
and be a useful alternative to competing with automobile traffic on existing roads. Please feel free to contact me with
any questions at denisbyrne@yahoo.com or write to your county legislator about
it if possible,
We can improve LI by creating a network of recreational trails for bicycles, walkers, joggers,
rollerbladers, and any other non-motorized transportation you can think of. Please consider supporting these goals so we
can avoid getting in the car just to travel a mile to the local park or strip mall. These projects include creating such
trails from Belmont Lake to Babylon Village, a 13 mile trail along Ocean Parkway from Jones Beach to Captree
and eventuallly Robert Moses Beach, another connecting Otsego to Edgewood Preserve via the old bridge on Commack
and over to the Sunken Meadow parkway greenbelt up to the beach,
an extension of the Bethpage parkway bike path to Syosset, another 13 mile route along the abandoned LIRR Wading River
branch, and restoring the remaining abandoned sections of the LI Motor parkway, (AKA Vanderbilt parkway) as a recreational
path running from Western Suffolk to Queens, where the bike path already exists. It's hard to get people motivated to
support these projects, and there is always one local resident who fights against because of misinformation they may have
heard about an increase in crime that will come with the "outsiders" coming through. However, in other areas where such
trails have been built, home values INCREASED and crime decreased, it actually improved the quality of life in the area
and created a park like atmosphere in these areas where it was safe for local children to play away from motor vehicles.
It is much more relaxing and fun when you can go out for a ride or walk and not have to deal with traffic clogged roads,
diesel fumes, inconsiderate motorists and dangerous conditions. The "Ribbon Park" open space concept is one whose time
has come. Please support these plans by copying the listed proposals or submitting your own ideas via e-mail, and speaking
in favor of them whenever possible. Anyone interested in supporting any of the bikepath projects should visit the
The LI Motorparkway site ,
The Rail-Trail site,
and The Edgewood Preserve site
for more info and let the DOT and local leaders know of your support! 
LI Environment site
The Edgewood Preserve site
Hike-LI.com- LI Hiking info
Motorparkway.net
pedalpushersonline.com story
Key among those trails is one that starts at "Old Commack Road" which is now the concrete bikepath, and heads west
over the old bridge, eventually connecting to trails inside Huntington town's Otsego park. These trails heading west are
known as NYDOT Corridor 16 and would lead all the way to Jones Beach among other destinations. To the east of the
Edgewood preserve, another possible trail could follow the
Sagtikos parkway and Robert Moses Causeway to the south shore, or all the way north to Sunken Meadow State park.