The bane of many drivers’ daily travels between East Hampton Village and Sag Harbor, the dread state Route 114, will get a makeover next fall. The New York State Department of Transportation announced this week that it had set aside money to grind off the old, potholed pavement, repair any damage to its underlayment, and roll out a fresh new coat of asphalt.
This is long overdue. State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. has been wrangling with the D.O.T. for a funding commitment for years. The last time the road had any significant patching was in 2018, when just six of the worst sections were repaved. At the time, Mr. Thiele called the work “the equivalent of putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound.”
During the Route 114 project’s design phase, going on now, public input will be welcomed. Among the issues that could be addressed are more clearly marking bicycle lanes and making sure their surfaces are as smooth and level as possible. The insane intersection with Stephen Hand’s Path near the East Hampton end of the road needs attention. And thought should be given to a turning lane, speed reduction, or other solution for the dangerous section near the Ross School on Goodfriend Drive. Mr. Thiele’s Bridgehampton office can assist anyone seeking to get a message to the state planners.