Construction continues along Island Crest Way, mid-Island. Crews are working to complete preparations for the resurfacing of the roadway that is scheduled for next week.

Last week, contractors prepped and poured the new concrete sidewalk areas and ADA ramps along the east side of the street, and graded and repaved the asphalt sidewalks along the west side. In addition, some widening work at Merrimount Drive was to be completed

There will continue to be a lengthy work zone in the coming days as the sidewalk work is spread out along the entire length of the project, from Merrimount to just north of Island Park Elementary School. Drivers will continue to see traffic reduced to one lane in each direction during work hours.

According to City Street Engineer, Clint Morris, the project has had extra manpower over the last week or so to ensure that the project is ready for the next phase — removing the top layer of the roadway (through a process referred to as “grinding”), to prepare for the repaving.

Paving is expected to begin on Aug. 14. Morris said that the paving is set to be done in two “long days,” he said, to minimize traffic interruption. The southbound lanes will be done on one day, followed by the northbound lanes the next. Side street connections will follow.

The last time that stretch of Island Crest Way was paved was in 1991. Morris said streets usually need repaving every 20 to 25 years.

Morris said the goal is to have the job done before the first day of school for Island public schools on Aug. 29.

“Our goal has always been to have the roadway in its three-lane configuration, repaved and restriped by the first day of school, with only minor tasks to finish,” he said.

Those tasks would include landscaping and any remaining clean up.