No More Cops & Cones Means Way More South Fork Traffic

Kirk Cassels

Our fall fantasies of spacious roads, open for non-gridlocked driving, have been dashed. The beloved Cops & Cones program comes to an end on October 15, construction then begins to create a second, permanent eastbound lane on the arterial County Road 39, and traffic is going to be worse than it was during the summer.

Measures have been taken to make this period (which will last until May) as stress-free as possible: the majority of construction is taking place between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., police will be on the scene (sans cones) to direct traffic in the immediate aftermath, the Hampton Jitney will add a morning bus that begins at L.I.E Exit 63 in Farmingville, and the Long Island Railroad is providing additional trains (two in the morning, one in the afternoon) between Speonk and Montauk and a "last chance" westbound bus from Montauk in the late afternoon– Southampton and East Hampton towns will provide bus and shuttle service from the stations to businesses and spots in the community and vice versa.

Fares for the extra train service will be $2.25 daily, $20 weekly and $66 monthly. So don't worry, the next seven months of commuting won't be kill-yourself bad, they'll just be scream-at-yourself-and-everyone-else bad.

Although not yet published, East Hampton and Southampton towns will post fare, schedule and additional information about the programs on their websites.

We can feel you squirming now. Want to vent? Have alternatives to share? Please do so below.