Proposal would create new exit on LIE at Crooked Hill Road

Plans are in the works to alleviate a trouble spot on the Long Island Expressway in Suffolk.
The state is proposing a new exit just east of Commack Road that will allow drivers to go directly onto Crooked Hill Road.
Currently, drivers have to take the Commack Road exit and stay on the service road.
The new design would allow motorists to take Exit 53 and get on the ramp for the southbound Sagtikos Parkway. A new dedicated lane would then go to Crooked Hill Road.
Many drivers are frustrated by the traffic currently on the road, which also leads to some popular shopping areas.
"It can get pretty bad, especially during rush hour or even on a Saturday morning," says John Meyer, of Dix Hills. "A lot of people are going to the outlets. It gets pretty crazy over there."
Sen. Phil Boyle says the project is still in the design phase and needs the approval of the Federal Highway Administration.
If funding is secured, the state says work could start next year and would take about two years to complete.
According to the state Department of Transportation, 58,000 motorists use Crooked Hill Road every day.