10 Emergency Pull-Off Areas Coming To LIE In Wake Of Nassau Cop's Death
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – The Long Island Expressway is getting 10 new emergency pull-off areas after the death of a Nassau County cop.
WCBS 880's Monica Miller reports
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There will be five pull-off spots eastbound and five westbound on the LIE after a federal audit last year found the highway between exits 35 and 41 needed safety improvements.
The federal study of the 7.2 mile stretch was called for after the death of Officer Michael Califano, a highway patrolman from Wantagh who was killed by a truck during a routine stop at night in early February of 2011.
Inspector Kenneth Lack, spokesman for the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association, said they welcome the improvements. He said they've also made changes to cop cars and uniforms to make officers more visible from the road at night.
"Studies have shown that the blue strobe lights in the rear of police cars are much more visible for the public, so along with the red lights, blue lights have been added in the rear of the highway cars," said Lack. "Orange traffic vests have also been provided to all the officers if they feel they need them."
An engineer for New York's Department of Transportation said they hope to have four of the emergency pull-off areas in place by the end of the year, but determine what's feasible based on the construction season, their maintenance schedule and the contract-letting process.
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