Upgrades for L.I.R.R. Trestles and Station

Construction of retaining walls under the railroad trestles on Accabonac Road and North Main Street in East Hampton Village, which began earlier this month, is expected to continue until spring 2019. The new walls, and the installation of connecting bridges, will allow the trestles, which often have been struck by trucks, to be raised from 11 to 14 feet above the roadway.  

Crews are now at work on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and some work on weekends may be required, said Sarah Armaghan, a spokewoman for the Long Island Rail Road. Traffic detours to clear roads for equipment may be necessary, she said, but no disruption of train service is anticipated.

The walls are being constructed with concrete blocks that vary in size and shape and which, at the request of the East Hampton Village Board, have been dyed an earth tone intended to be aesthetically consistent with the village’s character. 

Another major construction project, the renovation of the village train station, which began in March, will be completed by the end of this month, Becky Molinaro Hansen, the village administrator, said. 

As part of a state-funded $120 million program to upgrade 16 stations on Long Island, work was done to modernize the station while restoring its original 1895 appearance. Paint was stripped from the building, revealing a red-brick facade, triangular dormer windows were restored, and the exterior woodwork was painted dark green, the original shade.

The upgrades, according to Ms. Hansen, include the addition of LED lighting throughout the station, free Wi-Fi, U.S.B. charging stations, and electronic screens that will display train schedules. New bathrooms and benches have been installed and sidewalk alterations made to make access easier for people with disabilities.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority, which operates the L.I.R.R., is in charge of the projects.