BROOKHAVEN, NY — On Wednesday, May 28, 2026, Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) presented a ceremonial check for $5 million to Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico to support the resurfacing of deteriorating roadways across the Town of Brookhaven, including the full restoration of storm-damaged Harbor Road. The funding, secured by LaLota through the Fiscal Year 2026 community project funding (CPF) process, helped move the long-stalled Harbor Road project forward while easing the burden of rising road repair costs for the Town of Brookhaven.
Joining LaLota and Supervisor Panico at 57 Main Street in Stony Brook to mark the occasion were Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro, Ward Melville Heritage Organization President Gloria D. Rocchio, Village of Head of the Harbor Mayor Michael Utevsky, and Ward Melville Heritage Organization Board Chairman Richard Rugen.
Of the $5 million secured, $2.5 million will be directed toward the Harbor Road restoration project, with the remaining $2.5 million dedicated to resurfacing local roads throughout the Town.
“I served in local government before coming to Congress, so I understand how difficult it is for towns to keep up with aging infrastructure and rising construction costs while still protecting taxpayers. That’s exactly why I fought to secure this $5 million investment for Brookhaven. It helps move the long-awaited Harbor Road restoration project forward, while also giving the Town resources to improve roads in communities across Brookhaven. Long Islanders pay too much in taxes to drive on deteriorating roads and wait years for critical repairs. I’m proud to deliver federal dollars back home for projects that directly improve safety, quality of life, and day-to-day reliability for residents,” said Congressman Nick LaLota.
Supervisor Dan Panico praised the Congressman’s leadership in securing the funding and advocating for Long Island taxpayers, saying, “When [Highway] Superintendent Dan Losquadro and I reached out to our friend Congressman LaLota, he was ready to deliver. This $5 million grant, $2.5 million of which will go toward the Harbor Road restoration project, makes a world of difference.”
Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro emphasized the broader impact of the funding on the Town’s paving program, adding, “I can speak for myself as Highway Superintendent that the additional $2.5 million going to Brookhaven roads throughout the town is critically important. Over the past several years, we have seen a 30 percent increase in construction costs. Long gone are the days of doing more with less. We have not seen a 30 percent increase in state funding; we’ve barely seen a 10 percent increase. This $2.5 million, not only for the Harbor Road project but for our local roads, is going to allow us to keep our paving schedule on pace and complete the full scope of work we want to do every year.”
Supervisor Dan Panico also credited LaLota’s broader work on affordability for Long Island families. “It was this man and his colleague on the South Shore, Andrew Garbarino, who stood up against even their own party to demand that the State and Local Tax deduction be quadrupled for Long Island families,” Panico said.
Background: The Harbor Road restoration addresses damage sustained from catastrophic flooding during an August 2024 storm that left the roadway torn apart and the surrounding area in critical need of full rehabilitation. $2.5 million of the total will go toward the restoration of the roadbed and the resurfacing of Harbor Road. The remaining funds will supplement the Town’s existing paving schedule, which has faced increasing pressure from rising construction costs outpacing state funding increases. The collapse of Harbor Road cut residents off from essential services and forced emergency responders to take longer, less efficient routes. This project will restore safe, reliable access for residents, school buses, and first responders while also improving driving conditions across Brookhaven, reducing accident risks from failing pavement, and strengthening long-term infrastructure resilience ahead of future storm events. This $5 million is part of the $27.1 million Congressman LaLota secured for clean water, infrastructure and public safety projects through the fiscal year 2027 community project funding (CPF) process. |
