The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday officially started a major construction project that will eliminate the street-level Long Island Rail Road crossing at Covert Avenue in New Hyde Park and replace it with a new roadway underpass.

While MTA officials say the work will make the area safer, homeowners and businesses along Covert Avenue in New Hyde Park and neighboring Floral Park say it's currently a major headache.

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The construction is creating detours and road closures on Covert Avenue. Business owners say signs warning drivers of detours and closures are misleading and that they're worried customers will think all of Covert Avenue is closed, leading to a loss of revenue.

The small section of Covert Avenue that's closed is between First and Fifth avenues.

The Covert Avenue crossing is one of seven that will be eliminated as a result of the LIRR third track project. The MTA expects the crossing reconstruction to be completed by the fall.