Huntington LIRR Line Affected By Post Avenue Bridge Installation

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The MTA said to plan for an additional 40 to 60 minutes of travel time on the Huntington/Port Jefferson Branch this Saturday and Sunday due to LIRR's replacement of the Post Avenue Bridge in Westbury. Photo Courtesy of MTA LIRR

By Paul Shapiro
pshapiro@longislandergroup.com

Planning on riding the Long Island Railroad this weekend?

If so, the MTA says to plan ahead and allow for up to 40 to 60 minutes of additional travel time due to the installation of a new Post Avenue Bridge in Westbury over the weekend of Saturday, Oct. 21 and Sunday, Oct. 22.

The demolition and installation will cause a 48-hour disruption in train service between Hicksville and Mineola, which will affect those taking the train to and from Huntington.

 “Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to complete this infrastructure improvement in the shortest timeframe possible,” the MTA’s website stated.

As a result, on the weekend of Oct. 21-22, buses will replace trains between Mineola and Hicksville with train service between Huntington and points west being reduced to hourly instead of the usual half-hourly intervals, and between Huntington and Port Jefferson every two hours instead of the usual 90-minute intervals.

To avoid delays, MTA LIRR officials said to consider traveling on alternate branches this weekend. Special weekend timetables will be in effect for all branches and can be found on the LIRR’s website. Click here for the updated Huntington/Port Jefferson Branch timetable.

Major impacts to service include the following for the Huntington/Port Jefferson Branch:

  • Buses will replace trains between Hicksville and Mineola for the entire weekend (Oct. 21-22).
  • Customers at Carle Place and Westbury will have bus service only.
  • Westbound customers will take trains to Hicksville, then transfer to buses bound for Mineola. At Mineola, they will transfer to a train to complete the trip.
  • Eastbound customers will take trains to Mineola, then transfer to buses bound for Hicksville. At Hicksville, they will transfer to a train to complete the trip.
  • Train service between Huntington and points west will be reduced to hourly instead of the usual half-hourly intervals.
  • Trains between Huntington and Port Jefferson will operate every two hours instead of the usual 90-minute intervals.

According to the MTA, the new span will increase clearance above the roadway by more than two feet. That should ultimately reduce the number of instances in which over-sized trucks hit and damage the bridge, and prevent resulting train delays for LIRR customers, MTA officials said.

“The new Post Avenue LIRR Bridge is an important project that is going to be followed by seven other bridges that are going to be upgraded or replaced as part of the historic Third Track project -- which will deliver Long Islanders more frequent and reliable service and huge safety and economic benefits,” said Janno Lieber, MTA Chief Development Officer.