Assemblyman Ed Flood (R,C-Port Jefferson) stood alongside members of the Assembly and Senate Minority Conferences, county and town highway superintendents and members of the New York State County Highway Superintendents Association (NYSCHSA) at a press conference to demand increased funding support for local roads, bridges and culverts.

The “Local Roads Are Essential” advocacy campaign is requesting a $270 million increase in the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement program (CHIPS) and Extreme Winter Recovery (EWR) to compensate for the 22% increase in construction materials. They are calling on Gov. Hochul to recognize the inflationary increases in highway material costs and further increase her CHIPS proposal by $200 million, increase EWR funding by $70 million and support maintaining the local Bridge-NY program at $200 million annually.

“Residents of Brookhaven have been risking their well-being driving through the deteriorating 117-year-old Sheep Pasture Road Bridge. The poor conditions of roads and bridges in New York state continues to be a disappointment. It is a safety hazard for all New Yorkers to be driving on unpredictable roads. It is important that school buses and public service vehicles are able to safely get to their destinations without damage to the vehicle. The increase in funding will alleviate the burden on taxpayers who are paying for unwarranted repairs and allow the state to uphold its responsibility to maintain roads, bridges and culverts safely. When it comes to public safety, there shouldn’t be a consistent battle for change.”