State Eyes New Sunrise Highway Interchange
A proposed $5 million state and federal study will examine whether a new Sunrise Highway interchange at Speonk-Riverhead Road could ease truck traffic, reduce congestion and improve access to eastern Brookhaven and western Southampton.
A long-discussed plan for a new Sunrise Highway interchange in Eastport is moving forward with $5 million for a study examining whether the project could improve traffic flow and quality of life.
The NY-27 at Riverhead-Speonk Road Interchange Study has been added to the proposed federal fiscal years 2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program. Funding consists of $4 million in federal National Highway Performance Program money and $1 million in state dedicated funding.
The study would examine an interchange at NY-27 and Speonk-Riverhead Road, where advocates say industrial traffic currently must leave Sunrise Highway elsewhere and travel local roads to reach businesses in the corridor.
Brookhaven Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig and Southampton Councilman Michael Iasilli, who lead the Southampton-Brookhaven Partnership Committee for Eastport, have pushed the state to study the proposal.
“This interchange has been a major topic of discussion among our committee because members know first-hand the impact that this type of traffic has on the Eastport hamlet and surrounding communities,” Dunne Kesnig said.
The council members previously wrote state Sen. Anthony Palumbo requesting an engineering evaluation, citing East End congestion, industrial traffic and community support. Iasilli also thanked Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni for his assistance in advancing traffic mitigation efforts.
Suffolk County Community College has also backed the study, saying improved access could benefit thousands of students and employees at its Eastern Campus while strengthening connections between education and local industry.
Southampton Councilman Tom Neely, the town’s former transportation director, said he looks forward to seeing whether the study identifies meaningful traffic improvements.
Advocates say an interchange could divert trucks from Old County Road and residential neighborhoods while providing another access point before notorious East End bottlenecks.
The concept is not new. An interchange at the location was contemplated in Sunrise Highway’s original design, local officials say.
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