Sound Shore Parkway: The Unbuilt Coastal Highway of Long Island
The landscape of Long Island is defined by its historic parkways, but several ambitious projects never made it past the planning stage. Among the most notable was the Sound Shore Parkway, a proposed scenic route designed to connect the North Shore's coastal communities through a series of bridges and causeways.
Proposed Routing and Path
The Sound Shore Parkway was envisioned to begin in downtown Glen Cove at New York State Route 107 (NY 107). From this starting point, the road would have traveled northeast into Lattingtown before continuing east through Bayville.
In Bayville, the parkway was planned to feature a major interchange with the proposed Bayville–Rye Bridge. From there, the route would have extended toward a causeway—a raised road across water—crossing Cold Spring Harbor between Centre Island and the Lloyd Neck area of Lloyd Harbor in Suffolk County.
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Intersections and Coastal Connections
Upon reaching Caumsett State Park, the Sound Shore Parkway would have intersected with the proposed Caumsett State Parkway, which was intended to link to the Bethpage State Parkway. The route then would have crossed a second causeway over Huntington Bay to reach Eatons Neck.
From Eatons Neck, the parkway was designed to swing southeast toward the Village of Asharoken. In this section, the road would have been constructed on elevated fill along the sound-side of the beach, utilizing the narrow strip of land that connects Eatons Neck to the rest of Long Island. This design mirrored proposals for the Asharoken–Norwalk Bridge and its approach to the unbuilt Babylon–Northport Expressway.
The Eastern Termini Options
After passing through the coast of Fort Salonga, planners considered two different options for the parkway's eastern end.
- Option One: The terminus would be at Sunken Meadow State Park along what is now Naples Avenue, connecting directly with the existing Sunken Meadow State Parkway.
- Option Two: An extension from Sunken Meadow State Park continuing southeast into what is now Caleb Smith State Park in Smithtown. This version may have included an interchange with the Jericho Turnpike Spur, a proposed extension of the Northern State Parkway.
Interestingly, physical evidence of these plans remains today. Along Naples Avenue, the streetlights were specifically designed for medians, though they are currently used for the parking fields and the north side of the road.
Key Facts
- Starting Point: NY 107 in downtown Glen Cove.
- Major Water Crossings: Cold Spring Harbor and Huntington Bay.
- Key Interchanges: Bayville–Rye Bridge and Caumsett State Parkway.
- Proposed Termini: Either Sunken Meadow State Park or Caleb Smith State Park.
- Unique Engineering: Elevated fill construction through the Village of Asharoken.
| Segment/Location | Key Feature or Connection |
|---|---|
| Glen Cove | Origin at NY 107 |
| Bayville | Interchange with Bayville–Rye Bridge |
| Cold Spring Harbor | Causeway between Centre Island and Lloyd Neck |
| Caumsett State Park | Intersection with Caumsett State Parkway |
| Asharoken | Elevated fill along the sound-side beach |
| Sunken Meadow/Smithtown | Proposed eastern termini |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where would the Sound Shore Parkway have started?
The parkway was proposed to begin at New York State Route 107 in downtown Glen Cove.
Which bridges were intended to connect with the parkway?
The route was planned to have an interchange with the Bayville–Rye Bridge and was linked to proposals for the Asharoken–Norwalk Bridge.
What evidence of the parkway exists today?
In the Sunken Meadow State Park area, streetlights along Naples Avenue that were designed for road medians serve as a remaining physical indicator of the project.
How would the parkway have crossed the water?
The plan included two causeways: one crossing Cold Spring Harbor and another crossing Huntington Bay into Eatons Neck.
What were the two proposed eastern endpoints?
The first option was to end at Sunken Meadow State Park; the second was to extend further southeast into Caleb Smith State Park in Smithtown.