Brookhaven councilman calls for faster timeline to repair pothole-plagued road
Middle Country Road, also known as State Route 25, has become riddled with potholes, frustrating drivers who say the damage has gone unaddressed for far too long.
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Drivers traveling along Middle Country Road in the Town of Brookhaven say deteriorating conditions are making the busy roadway increasingly dangerous, prompting a local lawmaker to call on the state to accelerate long-planned repairs.
Middle Country Road, also known as State Route 25, has become riddled with potholes, frustrating drivers who say the damage has gone unaddressed for far too long.
During a visit to the roadway, numerous potholes were visible, some forcing drivers to swerve into adjacent lanes to avoid damage.
“Sometimes you have to move into the other lane just to get around it,” Centereach resident Lisa Balanda said. “It’s either blow out your tire or have a near miss. It’s really dangerous.”
Other drivers echoed similar concerns, pointing to frequent breakdowns along the roadside. “A lot of flat tires — you see people pulled over all the time,” Ronkonkoma resident Francisco Arenas said.
Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Manzella said complaints from residents led him to personally assess the road’s condition. Manzella drove from the Smith Haven Mall to County Road 83 and back, counting potholes along the route.
“We went out, I was sitting in the passenger seat, and we were taking tally marks,” Manzella said. “It was about 50-something potholes going one way and about 50-something coming back. In the end, it was about 117.”
Because Middle Country Road is maintained by the state, Manzella wrote a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul describing the roadway as deteriorating and increasingly dangerous, urging faster action.
In a statement to News 12, a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Transportation said the agency is “currently progressing a project, which is in the design phase, to resurface State Route 25 in the Town of Brookhaven.”
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico said the resurfacing work is expected to be completed next year. However, many drivers say waiting that long puts motorists at continued risk.
The state DOT says it will continue to monitor conditions on Middle Country Road and provide maintenance as needed in the meantime.
