What Happened
The New York State Department of Transportation is advising motorists of weeknight overnight closures on the westbound Long Island Expressway (Interstate 495) in Nassau County, beginning Monday, August 17, 2026, according to an advisory published August 14, 2026, on LongIsland.com.
The affected stretch runs from Exit 40 — State Route 25/Jericho Turnpike, in the Town of Oyster Bay — to Exit 36 — Searingtown Road, in the Village of North Hills. That segment falls within the Towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay. The closures will be in effect weeknights from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for approximately three weeks.
The westbound HOV lane on the same stretch is subject to an earlier closure, shutting down beginning at 9 p.m. each night — one full hour before the general lanes close — and reopening with the rest of the highway at 5 a.m.
The stated purpose of the closures is to facilitate a pavement renewal project. The NYSDOT noted that all construction activities are weather-dependent and subject to change based on field conditions, meaning schedules could shift with little notice.
During the closure window, traffic will be detoured onto the North Service Road. The NYSDOT advises that passenger vehicles may use the Northern State Parkway as an alternate route to bypass the affected section of the expressway entirely.
Location & Road Context
The affected segment of the westbound Long Island Expressway between Exits 36 and 40 is a heavily traveled corridor connecting the Town of Oyster Bay with the Village of North Hills in North Hempstead. The LIE carries some of the densest commuter and commercial traffic on Long Island, and this particular stretch sees consistent volume heading into Queens and the New York City metro area during evening and early-morning hours. Our incident database shows 2,270 recorded incidents on I-495, with multiple construction-related entries logged on August 14 alone. Nassau County as a whole accounts for 1,047 recorded accidents in our local database. Motorists displaced by the closure onto the North Service Road or the Northern State Parkway should note that recent roadwork on the Northern State Parkway was also recorded on August 14, 2026, and conditions on that alternate route may themselves be subject to disruption.
Broader Impact
The three-week pavement renewal window spans a period of late-summer traffic, when back-to-school and end-of-season shore traffic can elevate overnight volumes beyond typical weeknight levels. The NYSDOT’s mission, as stated in the advisory published by LongIsland.com, emphasizes providing “a safe, reliable, equitable, and resilient transportation system” — and the agency specifically reminds drivers to slow down and move over for highway workers active during these overnight shifts. For real-time updates, motorists can call 511, visit 511NY.org, or download the free 511NY mobile app.