Highways and Main Routes in Suffolk County, New York

Long Island Expressway (I-495)

There are around six important east-west routes in Suffolk County. The busiest highway in the county is the Long Island Expressway (I-495). Known locally as the “LIE”, it runs east-west in the center of Suffolk County. The LIE originates in the west from the Queens-Midtown Tunnel in Manhattan. It proceeds to cross Queens County, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. The LIE’s eastern terminus is near the Town of Riverhead. Unlike most other highways in New York State, the speed limit on the LIE does not exceed 55 mph. This lower speed limit proves challenging to motorists, especially in the more rural areas of Suffolk County. Many speeding citations are issued on the LIE.

Sunrise Highway (NYS-27)

Another busy highway is the Sunrise Highway (NYS-27). It runs east-west in the southern portion of Suffolk County. This highway originates on its western side off the Verrazano Bridge as it crosses from Staten Island into Brooklyn. As it goes east along the shore through Brooklyn and Queens, it is known as the Belt Parkway. When it crosses east into Nassau County, it is known as the Sunrise Highway. In Nassau County, it is mostly three lanes in each direction. However, in Nassau the NYS-27 has traffic lights, so it ceases to be a typical highway. Around the Suffolk County line, the NYS-27 goes back to being a regular highway. It continues this way eastward for approximately fifty miles. In the Southampton area, the NYS-27 changes from a highway to a main drag. It becomes the main street of the Montauk villages until it reaches the tip of Long Island at Montauk Point. On the highway portion of the NYS-27, most traffic stops are for speeding. In the areas where it is not a highway, traffic stops are for various other traffic violations including speeding.

Southern State Parkway

Another east-west highway is the Southern State Parkway. It originates in the west around the Queens-Nassau line. It crosses Nassau County and continues eastward into Suffolk County for approximately fifteen miles. As the Southern State Parkway reaches the Brentwood area, it turns south and becomes the Heckscher State Parkway. It ends at the Heckscher State Park on the southern shore.

Northern State Parkway

The Northern State Parkway is similar. On the western side it originates at the Queens-Nassau line as a continuum of the Grand Central Parkway. It crosses the entire Nassau County. After the Northern State Parkways continues eastward into Suffolk County, it runs for another roughly fifteen miles before it merges into the Veterans Memorial Highway (NYS-454) in Commack.

New York State Route 25 (NYS-25)

Another busy east-west route is New York State Route 25 (NYS-25). It runs in the northern part of Suffolk County. Route 25 goes by various names as it crosses the county including Main Road, Middle Country Road, and Jericho Turnpike. A similar road is New York State Route 25A (NYS-25A). Through various areas of Suffolk County, it is known as Main Street, Fort Salonga Road, South Johnland Road, North County Road, Sound Avenue, and Parker Road.

New York State Route 110 (NYS-110)

There are around eight routes and highways that run north-south in Suffolk. Going west to east, the first is New York State Route 110 (NYS-110). It starts in the north in Huntington where it is named New York Avenue. Here it serves as the main drag and is one lane in each direction. The speed limit is 30 mph. As it crosses the Jericho Turnpike in South Huntington, the NYS-110 expands to two lanes in each direction. It is now called Walt Whiteman Road. The speed limit increases to 40 mph. Further south, as it crosses the Long Island Expressway, the road expands once again to three lanes in each direction. It is now known as Broadhollow Road (NYS-110). The speed limit is eventually increased to 55 mph. As it crosses the Southern State Parkway, the road narrows once again to two lanes in each direction and continues this way until its southern terminus in Amityville.

New York State Route 231 (NYS-231)

The next north-south route is New York State Route 231 (NYS-231). It starts in the north off the Northern State Parkway where it is known as Deer Park Avenue. It is two lanes in each direction with a grassy median. The speed limit is 40 mph. It continues southward and after it crosses the Southern State Parkway it is called the Babylon Northport Expressway. Its southern terminus is at the Montauk Highway in Babylon.

Sunken Meadow Parkway

Going further east is a parkway that has multiple names. It starts in the north at the Sunken Meadow Park and is known as the Sunken Meadow Parkway. When it crosses the LIE, it becomes the Sagtikos Parkway (pronounced SAG-di-kose). When it crosses the Southern State Parkway it is renamed to Robert Moses Causeway. It then crosses the Great South Bay to its southern terminus in Fire Island. This is the longest north-south route in the entire Long Island. With a few exceptions, it is two lanes in each direction with a grassy median.

New York State Route 111 (NYS-11)

The next north-south route is New York State Route 111 (NYS-11). This originates in the north in a village named “Village of the Branch”. The NYS-111 here is called Hauppauge Road. It commences to run in a southwestern direction until Hauppauge. There, the name changes to Wheeler Road. It also straightens out and continues southward in a direct fashion. After the LIE, it is called Joshuas Path. In the Central Islip area, it changes again to Islip Avenue. It continues southward until its southern terminus in Islip. For the most part, the NYS-111 is a commercial strip with one lane in each direction. It sporadically expands to two lanes in each direction at some points along the route.

County Route 97 (CR-97)

Further west is County Route 97 (CR-97). Its northern terminus is off the NYS-25A at SUNY Stony Brook. It is called Nicolls Road. After it crosses the NYS-347/Smithtown Bypass, it curves eastward for approximately ten miles and then continues southward. CR-97 then continues straight until its southern terminus in Bayport. It is the only north-south route that has the name throughout. For the majority of the route, Nicolls Road is two lanes in each direction with a grassy median. The speed limit in general is 55 mph.

New York State Route 112 (NYS-112)

Next is New York State Route 112 (NYS-112). It starts in the north in Port Jefferson Station where it is called Patchogue Road. It runs in a south-southeast manner until Coram. From there it goes directly south. A mile south of downtown Coram, the road expands from one lane in each direction to two lanes in each direction. It continues as a four-lane road for the rest of the route. As it crosses the LIE it becomes Medford Avenue. Its southern terminus is on Main Street in Patchogue.

William Floyd Parkway

The most eastern north-south route is the William Floyd Parkway. It begins in the north in East Shoreham off the NYS-25A. The speed limit is 55 mph and there are two lanes in each direction. After it crosses the LIE, there are intermittent traffic lights. It continues as the Smith Point Bridge as it crosses the bay into its southern terminus at Fire Island.

Benjamin Goldman Law Office PC

If you were stopped and cited with a traffic infraction on any of these roads, our firm can help. We are the Benjamin Goldman Law Office. Our firm’s primary area of practice is Vehicle & Traffic Law. Attorneys at our firm have helped many motorists in Long Island and we will be glad to chat about your case. Consultations are free and you can contact us via any of the methods available on our website.