Heckscher State Parkway - Route Description

Route Description

The Heckscher State Parkway begins at exit 41A of the Southern State Parkway, which doubles as the southern terminus of the Sagtikos State Parkway in the hamlet of West Islip. The Heckscher crosses through the interchange, becoming an eastbound six-lane local parkway, crossing under Manatuck Boulevard into the Brentwood section of Islip. A short distance later, the Heckscher enters exit 42S–N, a cloverleaf interchange with County Route 13 (CR 13; Fifth Avenue) in Brentwood. Exit 42S going eastbound connects to CR 13 via a service road (Spur Drive South) while exit 42N going westbound connects to CR 13 via Spur Drive North. After the interchange, the parkway bends slightly southeastward, then evening eastward through Brentwood, remaining a six-lane parkway surrounded by dense woods.

Near East Forks Road, the Heckscher State Parkway bends northeast, crossing through Islip and under Brentwood Road. A wider median appears after Brentwood Road, as the parkway continues east. This median returns to normal length just before approaching the overpass for Commack Road, where the parkway leaves Brentwood. A short distance later in the Central Islip section, the parkway enters another cloverleaf interchange, exit 43S–N, which serves NY 111 (Islip Avenue). After the interchange, the parkway continues east through Central Islip, bending northeast soon after as a six-lane parkway. After crossing under CR 17 (Carleton Avenue), the eastbound Heckscher enters exit 43A, which is a single ramp to Spur Drive South that connects to CR 17. Westbound, this is similar, with a single ramp to Spur Drive North.

After exit 43A, the Heckscher State Parkway makes its bend to the south, crossing under Manhattan Boulevard in Central Islip. Just after a pedestrian bridge, the Heckscher enters another cloverleaf interchange, this time exit 44W–E, which serves NY 27 (Sunrise Highway). After crossing over the Sunrise Highway, the Heckscher State Parkway continues southbound, now in the Country Village section of Islip. A short distance later, the parkway crosses over Long Island Rail Road's Montauk Branch tracks west of the Great River station. After crossing over the tracks, the parkway parallels Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park and crosses over CR 50 (Union Boulevard). Just after CR 50, the Heckscher enters exit 45E–W, a cloverleaf interchange which serves NY 27A (Montauk Highway).

After exit 45E, the Heckscher continues southward, now a four-lane parkway with divided median. Now in Great River, the parkway crosses between several residential neighborhoods on each side, bending southward into Country Village once again. After a short stint through East Islip, the parkway bends southwest into exit 46, which serves Timber Point Road. After this exit, the parkway passes a turnaround to the northbound lanes, and enters the tollbooth for Heckscher State Park, where the official parkway designation terminates. The right-of-way continues south of the toll barrier through Heckscher State Park, soon rounding back to the northbound lanes.