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From 1925 to 1962: How did Southern Boulevard become the lifeline of transportation on Long Island? Come and see this thrilling history!
Southern State Parkway is a 25.53-mile (approximately 41.09 kilometers) controlled-access highway located on Long Island, New York, United States. Since its construction in 1925 by the famous road designer Robert Moses, it has gradually evolved into an important thoroughfare connecting the suburbs and the city, becoming an important helper for people's daily commuting.
Based on designs by Robert Moses, Southern Boulevard was designed to improve access to Jones Beach.
Southern Boulevard starts in Elmont and intersects with the Cross Island Parkway and the Belt Parkway, mainly passing through Nassau and Suffolk Counties. , and finally arrived at Heckscher State Park. The first section was officially opened to traffic in 1927, and by 1949, it had been extended to the eastern end of the original plan (Bay Shore Road). In 1962, it was further extended to its present eastern end.
At the time Southern Boulevard opened, Long Island was experiencing a post-war housing construction boom, which resulted in many former sections being widened and realigned to accommodate increasing commuter demand.
Route description
The Southern Parkway has a varied route, passing through multiple state parks and important intersections from its starting point, providing easy access. For example, at Lakeview, Southern Parkway passes through Hempstead Lake State Park.
Southern Parkway was originally designed as a "linear park" connecting it to Jones Beach and other state parks.
In addition, the highway intersects with several other highways, such as Meadowbrook State Parkway and the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway. These interchanges promote the convenience of Southern Boulevard, making it an important travel option for Long Island residents.
Development History
Construction and design of Southern Boulevard began in 1925. The road was originally used mainly for water conservancy facilities, but under the guidance of Robert Moses, it was transformed into a transportation thoroughfare. When the first section of the road opened in 1927, traffic patterns in the area changed dramatically. Increases in vehicle density and speed prompted the road section to be redesigned in the 1950s to cope with the growing traffic volume.
In the 1950s, Southern Boulevard was widened to eight lanes to accommodate increased traffic demand.
With the passage of time, the design of Nanfang Avenue has gradually shifted from being a "linear park" to meeting higher-speed traffic needs. This change directly affects the safety and convenience of driving.
Today’s Southern Avenue
In addition to being an important traffic artery, today's Southern Avenue also retains to a large extent the green corridor envisioned by Moses. On the one hand, the dense vegetation on both sides of the road provides users with a peaceful driving environment; on the other hand, it also effectively connects many major commercial districts and residential communities on Long Island.
The design of Southern Avenue not only serves traffic, but also takes into account aesthetics. The low arched bridge is not only beautiful, but also blocks the passage of commercial vehicles.
With the changes in the surrounding environment and the development of the city, the role of Nanfang Avenue has also continued to evolve, from the original connection between the city and the sea to today's main traffic artery.
In the transportation history of Long Island, Southern Avenue is undoubtedly an important milestone, so how will this road affect the development of Long Island in the future?
