Village to Close Roads to Port Jeff at 9 p.m. on Saturday

Approximately 20 streets will be closed to traffic beginning at 9 p.m. on Saturday to restrict access to downtown Port Jefferson, where the storm surge from Hurricane Irene is feared to cause major flooding.

Access to Main Street from Myrtle Avenue continuing north to the end at the docks will be closed off. West Broadway will be closed at California Avenue east to Main Street. East Broadway will be closed at High Street west to Main Street. Barnum Avenue will be totally closed off to traffic and drivers can expect Route 112 to be closed to access at Prospect Street, South Street, Spring Street, Tuthill Street, William Street and Myrtle Avenue. Access to Old Post Road will also be closed off at Crystal Brook Hollow Road.

Some of the roads will be closed using barriers but checkpoints at main road access points will be staffed by village code enforcement officers. It wasn’t clear yet which roads were going to be manned and which would be closed off by a barrier only.

On an emergency planning call earlier on Saturday with Port Jefferson village officials, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko said that among other areas, Port Jefferson was a concern for him because of the possibility of major flooding.

Village trustee Lee Rosner said that the businesses should be encouraged to close at 8 p.m. on Saturday allowing them time to leave the area and prepare for what essentially is a closing of downtown Port Jefferson at 9 p.m. ahead of expected high winds and rain.

Officials express concern that with high tide at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday the storm surge could cause extensive flooding starting around that time.

One official at the meeting said, “when the storm surge hits it’s going to be fast.”