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Town Hall Notes: Town Board approves left turn ban for Kroemer Avenue

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | The Town has banned left turns from Kroemer Avenue onto Route 58 heading west.

Drivers traveling north on Kroemer Avenue in Riverhead soon won’t be able to make a left turn onto Route 58, after the Town Board instituted a turning ban at the recommendation of the Suffolk County Department of Public Works.

The Town Board voted 4-0 in favor of the ban, which officials say is temporary, during Wednesday night’s board meeting at Town Hall.

Supervisor Sean Walter was absent.

The measure is part of the traffic plan for Headriver LLC’s proposed new Super Walmart store on the north side of Route 58, across from the Tanger Outlets. The traffic plan calls for widening the road north of the intersection and constructing two right-turn lanes heading south out of the existing Applebee’s lot, which would also serve Walmart, onto Route 58. But with two lanes of southbound traffic making right turns out of the proposed Walmart, officials felt left turns from northbound traffic coming off Kroemer Avenue wouldn’t be feasible.

Councilman Jim Wooten said he has reservations about the ban,  but said it was necessary until the portion of Kroemer Avenue south of the intersection was also reconfigured.

“I know a lot of people who like to head toward the Long Island Expressway from Kroemer,” he said.

A right turn only sign will be posted at the intersection once construction begins on the northern portion of the road, Mr. Wooten said.

NEW NAME FOR PART OF HORTON

The southernmost portion of Horton Avenue will now be known as Caffrey Court after the Town Board voted 4-0 to change the name. Councilman John Dunleavy explained that when the roundabout at the intersection with Middle Road was built, it separated a small portion of the road, thus making it difficult to find homes there.

“These people did not have an address because the traffic circle cut them off,” Mr. Dunleavy said.

LAND SURVEY AT EPCAL

The Town Board also approved a request for proposals to conduct a land survey at the Enterprise Park at Calverton. Bid for a Boundary and Topographic Study would be due June 16.

“Finally we’re going to have an EPCAL study,” said Councilman George Gabrielsen.

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