West Hempstead, NY - Over the last few years, Woodfield Road in West Hempstead has been the scene of numerous traffic accidents due to speeding and lack of traffic control devices. On August 10th, a 73-year-old woman was hit by a driver while crossing Woodfield Road at Oakford Street. In December of 2022, a man died after being hit by a driver, and just two months earlier in October 2022, a 12-year-old boy was killed after being struck by a car on Woodfield Road near Lindberg Street. In 2021, a 17-year-old girl was also killed along the roadway.
Previously, Nassau County Legislators Bill Gaylor and John Giuffré had requested the Department of Public Works install a traffic light on Woodfield Road at Lindberg Street. The traffic light will be installed in the coming weeks, and Public Works has already started to mark out the roadway for the foundations for the light.
On Monday, August 21st, Legislators Gaylor and Giuffré, joined with Rabbi Elon Soniker, of Congregation Anshei Shalom of West Hempstead, community members and Public Works employees to announce the expansion of the traffic study along the entire Woodfield Road corridor in West Hempstead, with specific focus on the intersection of Maple Street. The road is frequented by pedestrians walking to school, businesses, and religious institutions, as well as motorists traveling to Hempstead Turnpike. It also features a dangerous bend which potentially can obstruct the view of the roadway to drivers and prevent pedestrians from seeing an on-coming car.
“West Hempstead is a walking community, and the safety of our residents is of the utmost importance,” Legislator Bill Gaylor said. “Whether they are driving in their cars, bicycling down the street or walking in the neighborhood, people have expectations of safety. I am very happy to partner with Legislator Giuffré and County Executive Blakeman to get this traffic light installed at the Lindberg Street and Woodfield intersection, and to expand the traffic study throughout Woodfield Road. Street safety improves quality of life for all residents in a community.”
The expanded traffic study will begin in the mid-fall after the new traffic light at Lindberg Street is up and running. It will track the amount of pedestrian and car traffic on the street, including kids walking to school, as well as traffic patterns and volume. An end date for the study has not been set yet.
