Southern State Parkway (SSP) — Accident History & Road Conditions

Traffic conditions, accident reports, and safety information for the Southern State Parkway on Long Island — Nassau and Suffolk County's primary south shore corridor.

113 incidents tracked — last incident May 5, 2026

Length 30 mi
Speed Limit 55 mph
Avg Daily Traffic 120,000
Exits 44
Counties Nassau, Suffolk

Route Overview

From
Valley Stream (Nassau/Queens border)
To
Heckscher State Park (East Islip)
Also Known As
Southern State, SSP

Overview

The Southern State Parkway is Long Island’s central south shore artery, running 30 miles from the Nassau/Queens border at Valley Stream east to Heckscher State Park in East Islip, Suffolk County. It carries approximately 120,000 vehicles per day, making it one of the most traveled parkways in New York State. For residents of Nassau County’s south shore communities — Valley Stream, Hempstead, Freeport, Massapequa — it is the primary commuter route to and from New York City, connecting at its western end to the Belt Parkway and Cross Island Parkway for access to the city.

The parkway was conceived and built by Robert Moses beginning in the 1920s as part of his ambitious Long Island State Park Commission plans. Moses envisioned a scenic leisure road connecting the suburbs to the beaches of Jones Beach Island, which he was simultaneously developing as a public recreational destination. The Southern State opened in segments between 1929 and the early 1950s, eventually providing continuous passage from the Queens line to Heckscher State Park. Its original design — narrow 11-foot lanes, limited shoulders, low overpasses, and graceful stone bridges — was intended for the leisurely pace of recreational motoring. Today those same design features create significant safety hazards in a corridor now carrying commuter and commercial traffic at highway speeds.

The parkway’s most notable characteristic is its low overhead clearances at dozens of bridge crossings. Some structures date to the 1930s and carry overhead restrictions as low as 8 feet 6 inches — physically preventing buses and commercial trucks from using the road. This was not accidental. Moses designed the overpasses low to block bus access and thereby restrict the parkway to automobile-owning (predominantly white and middle-class) users. The result today is a highway that serves enormous traffic volume with infrastructure never designed for it, maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation under perpetual strain.

Dangerous Sections

Exit 19 — Meadowbrook State Parkway (East Meadow/Freeport area): The confluence of the Southern State and Meadowbrook Parkway at Exit 19 is the busiest interchange on the road. Northbound and southbound Meadowbrook ramps create complex weaving movements across the Southern State’s main lanes, and the tight geometry leaves little room for error. Beach-season weekends (Memorial Day through Labor Day) produce the most severe backups and the highest crash frequency as Jones Beach traffic saturates both parkways simultaneously.

Exit 32 — Commack Road (Babylon/Islip border): Exit 32 marks a transition zone where volumes drop noticeably as the corridor thins east of Babylon. Drivers accustomed to slower stop-and-go conditions west of here often underestimate speed differentials when traffic opens up. Rear-end crashes are the dominant crash type in this segment.

Towns Along This Route

Current Conditions

Check back for real-time conditions.

Recent Incidents

No recent incidents to display.

Accident Statistics

NYSDOT crash data show the Southern State Parkway averaging 1,500–2,000 reported crashes annually. Injury crash rates per vehicle-mile traveled are elevated compared to the LIE due to the parkway’s narrower lanes and older alignment. Single-vehicle run-off-road crashes are more frequent here than on the expressways, particularly at night and in wet conditions where the limited shoulder width leaves less margin for recovery. The western Nassau sections near Valley Stream also see elevated hit-and-run incidents due to proximity to the Queens border and the high volume of cross-jurisdictional traffic. Nighttime crash severity is consistently higher than daytime on the Southern State, as the unlit stretches through undeveloped corridor segments offer no ambient lighting to aid driver recovery from incipient loss-of-control events.

Current Conditions 93 active

CLOSURE westbound

accidentsAndIncidents on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 30N - North Broadway (Oyster Bay) All lanes closed

All lanes closed

CLOSURE eastbound

roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound ramp to Exit 17N - Hempstead Avenue (Hempstead) All lanes closed until 2:00 P.M.

All lanes closed

CLOSURE eastbound

accidentsAndIncidents on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway eastbound at Exit 14 - Fletcher Avenue EB (Hempstead) All lanes closed and detoured (Traffic being diverted off the road at exit 13-Central Avenue.)

All lanes closed and detoured

CLOSURE westbound

accidentsAndIncidents on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 19S - Peninsula Boulevard (Hempstead) All lanes closed

All lanes closed

CLOSURE eastbound

accidentsAndIncidents on Southern State Parkway

Police department activity on Southern State Parkway eastbound at Exit 19N - Peninsula Boulevard (Hempstead) All lanes and right shoulder closed

All lanes and right shoulder closed

ACCIDENT eastbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway eastbound at Exit 32N - NY 110 (Babylon) 1 Right lane of 4 lanes closed exit ramp blocked

ACCIDENT westbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 15 - North Corona Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 13N - North Central Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 5 lanes closed

ACCIDENT eastbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway eastbound at Exit 24N - Merrick Avenue (Hempstead) left shoulder blocked

ACCIDENT westbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 39S - Sylvan Road (Babylon) and Exit 38 - Belmont Lake State Park (Babylon) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed

ACCIDENT westbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 25S - NY 106 (Hempstead) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed

ACCIDENT westbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 37S - Belmont Avenue (Babylon) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed

ACCIDENT westbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 32S - Nassau-Suffolk County Line (Oyster Bay) and Exit 31 - Bethpage State Parkway (Oyster Bay) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed

ACCIDENT eastbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway eastbound at Exit 17N - Hempstead Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Right lane of 4 lanes closed

ACCIDENT eastbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway eastbound at Exit 17S - Hempstead Avenue (Hempstead) right shoulder blocked

ACCIDENT westbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound west of Exit 43S - NY 111 (Islip) 2 Right lanes of 3 lanes closed

ACCIDENT westbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 33 - NY 109 (Babylon) and Exit 32S - Nassau-Suffolk County Line (Oyster Bay) right shoulder blocked

ACCIDENT eastbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway eastbound at Exit 23 - Meadowbrook Road (Hempstead) right shoulder blocked

ACCIDENT westbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 35 - Wellwood Avenue; CR 3 (Babylon) left shoulder closed

ACCIDENT westbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 21 - Nassau Road (Hempstead) right shoulder blocked

ACCIDENT westbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 37S - Belmont Avenue (Babylon) and Exit 36 - Straight Path; CR 2 (Babylon) 1 Left lane of 4 lanes closed

ACCIDENT westbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 33 - NY 109 (Babylon) and Exit 32N - NY 110 (Babylon) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed

ACCIDENT westbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 28S - Wantagh Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed

ACCIDENT westbound

Misplaced commercial vehicle on Southern State Parkway

Misplaced commercial vehicle on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 32N - NY 110 (Babylon) and Exit 31 - Bethpage State Parkway (Oyster Bay) right shoulder closed

ACCIDENT westbound

Police department activity on Southern State Parkway

Police department activity on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 28A - NY 135 (Hempstead) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed

ACCIDENT eastbound

Vehicle fire on Southern State Parkway

Vehicle fire on Southern State Parkway eastbound at Exit 13S - Central Avenue (Hempstead) All lanes open exit ramp blocked.

ACCIDENT eastbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway eastbound approaching Exit 25S - NY 106 (Hempstead) right shoulder blocked

ACCIDENT westbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 15 - North Corona Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 13N - North Central Avenue (Hempstead) 2 Right lanes of 4 lanes closed

ACCIDENT eastbound

Crash on Southern State Parkway

Crash on Southern State Parkway eastbound at Exit 18 - Eagle Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound at Exit 17S - Hempstead Avenue (Hempstead) All lanes open will be closing the Northbound Ramp to EB SSP until 3:00 A.M

All lanes open

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 25S - NY 106 (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed until 3:00 P.M.

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound at Exit 30N - North Broadway (Oyster Bay) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed Until 2 PM

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 46 - Timberpoint Road; River Road (Islip) and Exit 42S - 5th Avenue; CR 13 (Islip) 2 Left lanes of 3 lanes closed until 2:00 P.M.

2 Left lanes closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound Exit 19N - Peninsula Boulevard (Hempstead) right shoulder blocked

right shoulder blocked

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 24S - Merrick Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Center lane of 3 lanes closed Until 2 PM

1 Center lane closed

CONSTRUCTION both directions

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway both directions area of Exit 45W - NY 27A (Islip) 1 Right lane of 4 lanes closed Until 3 PM

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork, Roving repairs on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork and Roving repairs, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 40 - Robert Moses Causeway (Islip) and Exit 32N - NY 110 (Babylon) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes blocked until 3:00 A.M.

1 Left lane blocked

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 13N - North Central Avenue (Hempstead) right shoulder blocked until 1:00 P.M.

right shoulder blocked

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork, Milling, Traffic signal repairs, Utility work on Southern State Parkway

Milling and roadwork and traffic signal repairs and utility work on Southern State Parkway westbound area of Exit 15 - North Corona Avenue (Hempstead), Monday April 27th, 2026 thru Friday May 1st, 2026, Monday thru Friday, 11:00 AM thru 02:00 PM 1 Left lane of 5 lanes closed

No Data

CONSTRUCTION both directions

Roadwork, Bridge work on Southern State Parkway

Bridge work and roadwork on Southern State Parkway both directions between BOSTON AVE (Islip) and BROADWAY (Islip), Tuesday April 28th, 2026 thru Wednesday April 29th, 2026, Tuesday/Wednesday, 10:00 AM thru 03:00 PM 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed

No Data

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 29 Hicksville Road; NY 107 (Hempstead) and Exit 30N - North Broadway (Oyster Bay) left shoulder closed until 3:00 P.M.

left shoulder closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound ramps to/from Exit 27S - Wantagh State Parkway (Hempstead) to Exit 28N - Wantagh Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed until 4:30 A.M.

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 40 - Robert Moses Causeway (Islip) and Exit 41S - CR 57 (Islip) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed until 2:00 P.M.

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 27S - Wantagh State Parkway (Hempstead) and Exit 28N - Wantagh Avenue (Hempstead) 2 Left lanes of 3 lanes closed until 4:00 A.M.

2 Left lanes closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 28N - Wantagh Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 28A NY 135 (Hempstead) 2 Right lanes of 3 lanes closed until 4:00 A.M.

2 Right lanes closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Overnight roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Overnight roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 27S - Wantagh State Parkway (Hempstead) and Exit 28N - Wantagh Avenue (Hempstead), Wednesday April 22nd, 2026 thru Thursday April 23rd, 2026, 11:00 PM thru 03:00 AM 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed

No Data

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Overnight roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Overnight roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 27N - Wantagh State Parkway (Hempstead) and Exit 28N - Wantagh Avenue (Hempstead), Tuesday April 21st, 2026 thru Wednesday April 22nd, 2026, 11:00 PM thru 03:00 AM 2 Left lanes of 3 lanes closed

No Data

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Overnight roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Overnight roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 28N - Wantagh Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 28A NY 135 (Hempstead), Monday April 20th, 2026 thru Tuesday April 21st, 2026, 11:00 PM thru 03:00 AM 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed

No Data

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 28S - Wantagh Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 28A - NY 135 (Hempstead) 2 Left lanes of 3 lanes closed until 4am

2 Left lanes closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 26 - Bellmore Road EB (Hempstead) and Exit 27N - Wantagh State Parkway (Hempstead) 2 Left lanes of 3 lanes closed until 4:00 A.M.

2 Left lanes closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 41N - CR 57 (Islip) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed until 3:00 P.M.

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 40 - Robert Moses Causeway (Islip) and Exit 39N - NY 231 (Babylon) 1 Left lane of 2 lanes closed Until 2 PM

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 39S - Sylvan Road (Babylon) 2 Left lanes of 3 lanes closed until 1:00 A.M.

2 Left lanes closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 27S - Wantagh State Parkway (Hempstead) and Exit 23 - Meadowbrook Road (Hempstead) 2 Left lanes of 3 lanes closed until 4:00 A.M.

2 Left lanes closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 15 - North Corona Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Right lane of 4 lanes closed until 3:00 P.M.

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork, Milling, Utility work on Southern State Parkway

Milling and roadwork and utility work on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 15 - North Corona Avenue (Hempstead), Monday April 13th, 2026 thru Friday April 17th, 2026, Monday thru Friday, 11:00 AM thru 02:00 PM 1 Left lane of 5 lanes closed

No Data

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 37S - Belmont Avenue (Babylon) and Exit 23 - Meadowbrook Road (Hempstead), Monday April 13th, 2026 thru Tuesday April 14th, 2026, 11:00 PM thru 03:00 AM 2 Left lanes of 4 lanes closed

No Data

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 29 Hicksville Road; NY 107 (Hempstead) and Exit 30N - North Broadway (Oyster Bay) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed until 3:00 A.M.

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 15 - North Corona Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Right lane of 4 lanes closed until 2:00 P.M.

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound Exit ramp Exit 40 - Robert Moses Causeway (Islip) 1 Right lane of 2 lanes shift until 12:00 P.M.

1 Right lane shift

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 29 Hicksville Road; NY 107 (Hempstead) and Exit 30N - North Broadway (Oyster Bay) 2 Left lanes of 3 lanes closed until 4am

2 Left lanes closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound at Exit 22S - Meadowbrook State Parkway (Hempstead) right shoulder closed Until 3 PM

right shoulder closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 17S - Hempstead Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 18 - Eagle Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Right lane of 4 lanes closed until 2:00 P.M.

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 26 - Bellmore Road EB (Hempstead) and Exit 27N - Wantagh State Parkway (Hempstead) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed until 4:00 A.M.

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION both directions

Roving repairs on Southern State Parkway

Roving repairs on Southern State Parkway both directions between Exit 29 Hicksville Road; NY 107 (Hempstead) and Exit 20S - Grand Avenue (Hempstead) All lanes open Ramps Temporarily closed until 4:00 A.M.

All lanes open

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 43N - NY 111 (Islip) and Exit 46 - Timberpoint Road; River Road (Islip) 2 Left lanes of 3 lanes closed until 2:00 P.M.

2 Left lanes closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 17S - Hempstead Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 18 - Eagle Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Right lane of 4 lanes closed until 2:00 PM

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 29 Hicksville Road; NY 107 (Hempstead) and Exit 20S - Grand Avenue (Hempstead) All lanes open exit ramp closed until 5:00 A.M.

All lanes open

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 17S - Hempstead Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 13S - Central Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 4 lanes closed until 2:00 P.M.

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 13S - Central Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 17S - Hempstead Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 4 lanes closed until 2 PM

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 21 - Nassau Road (Hempstead) and Exit 23 - Meadowbrook Road (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 40 - Robert Moses Causeway (Islip) and Exit 39S - Sylvan Road (Babylon) 1 Right lane of 2 lanes closed until 3:00 P.M.

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 17S - Hempstead Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 15 - North Corona Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed Until 2 PM

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION both directions

Roving repairs on Southern State Parkway

Roving repairs on Southern State Parkway both directions between Exit 20S - Grand Avenue (Hempstead) and to Exit 32 (NY 110) (Babylon) right shoulder closed eastbound; All lanes westbound UNTIL 5am WORKING ON ALL RAMPS IN THE AREA

right shoulder closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 26 - Bellmore Road EB (Hempstead) and Exit 23 - Meadowbrook Road (Hempstead) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed UNTIL 4AM

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 39S - Sylvan Road (Babylon) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed Until 3 PM

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 26 - Bellmore Road EB (Hempstead) and Exit 27S - Wantagh State Parkway (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed Until 3 PM

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 17N - Hempstead Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 15 - North Corona Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 4 lanes closed until 2:00 P.M.

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 17S - Hempstead Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 18 - Eagle Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 4 lanes closed until 3:00 P.M.

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 27S - Wantagh State Parkway (Hempstead) and Exit 24S - Merrick Avenue (Hempstead) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed until 5:00 A.M.

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 41N - CR 57 (Islip) and Exit 38 - Belmont Lake State Park (Babylon) 2 Left lanes of 3 lanes closed until 5:00 A.M.

2 Left lanes closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 22S - Meadowbrook State Parkway (Hempstead) and Exit 23 - Meadowbrook Road (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 4 lanes closed until 3:00 P.M.

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 24N - Merrick Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 23 - Meadowbrook Road (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed until 3:00 P.M.

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION both directions

Crack sealing on Southern State Parkway

Crack sealing on Southern State Parkway both directions between Deer Park Avenue; NY 231 (Babylon) and Exit 41N - CR 57 (Islip), Monday March 30th, 2026 thru Friday April 3rd, 2026, Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, 09:00 PM thru 05:00 PM 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed

No Data

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 27S - Wantagh State Parkway (Hempstead) and Exit 24S - Merrick Avenue (Hempstead) 2 Left lanes of 3 lanes closed until 3:00 A.M.

2 Left lanes closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 41A - Sagtikos State Parkway (Islip) and Exit 38 - Belmont Lake State Park (Babylon) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed until 5:00 A.M.

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 24N - Merrick Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 23 - Meadowbrook Road (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed until 1:00 P.M.

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 21 - Nassau Road (Hempstead) and Exit 22S - Meadowbrook State Parkway (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed until 2:00 P.M.

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound area of Exit 41A - Sagtikos State Parkway (Islip) 1 Right lane of 2 lanes closed until 2:00 P.M.

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 20S - Grand Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 22S - Meadowbrook State Parkway (Hempstead) 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed Until 2 PM

1 Left lane closed

CONSTRUCTION eastbound

Roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Roadwork, roadwork on Southern State Parkway eastbound between Exit 38 - Belmont Lake State Park (Babylon) and Exit 41N - CR 57 (Islip) 1 Right lane of 3 lanes closed until 5:00 A.M.

1 Right lane closed

CONSTRUCTION both directions

Overnight roadwork, Crack sealing on Southern State Parkway

Crack sealing and overnight roadwork on Southern State Parkway both directions between Exit 20S - Grand Avenue (Hempstead) and Exit 32N - NY 110 (Babylon), Thursday March 26th, 2026 thru Friday March 27th, 2026, 09:00 PM thru 05:00 AM 1 Left lane of 4 lanes closed

No Data

CONSTRUCTION both directions

Overnight roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Overnight roadwork on Southern State Parkway both directions between Deer Park Avenue; NY 231 (Babylon) and Exit 41A - Sagtikos State Parkway (Islip), Monday March 23rd, 2026 thru Wednesday March 25th, 2026, Monday/Tuesday, 09:00 PM thru 05:00 AM 1 Left lane of 3 lanes closed

No Data

CONSTRUCTION westbound

Overnight roadwork on Southern State Parkway

Overnight roadwork on Southern State Parkway westbound between Exit 26 - Bellmore Road EB (Hempstead) and Exit 24S - Merrick Avenue (Hempstead), Friday March 27th, 2026 thru Saturday March 28th, 2026, 11:00 PM thru 03:00 AM 2 Left lanes of 3 lanes closed

No Data

Data from 511NY, updated May 6, 8:01 AM

Recent Incidents 113 total

critical

Driver in Fatal Southern State Parkway Crash Denied Bail at Arraignment

· May 5, 2026

19h ago
moderate

Left Lane Closed After Crash on Westbound Southern State Parkway

Hempstead · May 5, 2026

1d ago
minor

Minor Crash Blocks Left Shoulder on Eastbound Southern State Parkway

Hempstead · May 4, 2026

2d ago
minor

Left Lane Closed on Westbound Southern State Parkway After Suffolk Crash

Babylon · May 3, 2026

2d ago
moderate

Single Vehicle Property Damage Crash Reported on Southern State Parkway Exit 13N

· May 3, 2026

3d ago
minor

Right Lane Closed After Crash on Westbound Southern State Parkway

Hempstead · May 3, 2026

3d ago
moderate

Pickup Driver Arrested for DWI After 3-Vehicle Crash Causes Rollover on Southern State

· May 3, 2026

3d ago
minor

Left Lane Closed After Crash on Westbound Southern State Parkway

Babylon · May 2, 2026

4d ago
View all 113 incidents on Southern State Parkway →

Accidents by Town

Town-specific breakouts for Southern State Parkway — every town where we've tracked three or more incidents.

View all 17 accidents on Southern State Parkway in Hempstead Open page → View all 7 accidents on Southern State Parkway in Valley Stream Open page → View all 4 accidents on Southern State Parkway in Wantagh Open page → View all 3 accidents on Southern State Parkway in Islip Open page → View all 3 accidents on Southern State Parkway in Oyster Bay Open page →

Accident Statistics

113 Total Reports
71 Critical
0 Fatal

Dangerous Sections

  • 19
  • 32

Towns Along This Route

Safety Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accidents happen on the Southern State Parkway each year?

The Southern State Parkway records approximately 1,500–2,000 reported crashes per year. The parkway's narrow lanes, limited shoulders, and aging design contribute to a higher-than-average crash severity rate compared to modern divided highways of similar volume.

What are the most dangerous sections of the Southern State Parkway?

Exit 19 (Meadowbrook Parkway interchange in East Meadow/Freeport) and Exit 32 (Commack Road in Babylon/Islip) are the highest-incident locations. The Exit 19 area involves complex weaving between the Southern State and Meadowbrook Parkway on-ramps. Exit 32 sees frequent rear-end crashes from abrupt speed differentials as traffic thins east of the Babylon–Islip border.

Why does the Southern State Parkway have low overpasses?

The low overpasses — some as low as 8 feet 6 inches — are a deliberate legacy of Robert Moses' design philosophy. Moses wanted to restrict parkway access to passenger cars and exclude buses (used by lower-income residents). Commercial trucks and vehicles over a certain height are prohibited from the parkway for this reason.

Does the Southern State Parkway allow trucks?

No. The Southern State Parkway prohibits commercial vehicles, trucks, and buses. Height restrictions on bridge overpasses (as low as 8 feet 6 inches) physically enforce this restriction in many locations. Drivers of commercial vehicles should use the Sunrise Highway (NY-27) as a parallel south shore alternative.

What is the speed limit on the Southern State Parkway?

The posted speed limit on the Southern State Parkway is 55 mph throughout. However, the parkway's narrow 11-foot lanes and tight interchange geometry mean that operating speeds during off-peak hours often exceed posted limits, contributing to crash severity.