Big changes are coming to a portion of East Avenue between Brighton and Pittsford.
The State Department of Transportation has plans to reconfigure a two and a half mile section of the road between East Highland Drive and Route 31F from four lanes to two lanes.
DOT spokesperson Lori Maher says the amount of traffic that passes through there – an estimated 8,000 to 15,000 vehicles a day - doesn't warrant four lanes.
"If we were to build a road now, we wouldn't build a four lane road for that amount of traffic in that setting. And remember, it's largely residential. There are a lot of people who live off the side roads there who are traveling and commuting."
The DOT has already heard from dozens of residents about the proposed changes. Some are concerned that there will be more traffic congestion, but Mayer said engineers don't anticipate that.
The proposal calls for one traffic lane in each direction with a center turn lane and wider shoulders to accommodate bicyclists.
"We're proposing to reconfigure the lanes so we'll have about three and a half feet on the shoulders,” Maher said.
Once it starts next summer, construction is expected to take a few months. Maher said much of it will happen during the overnight hours.
The DOT held a public informational meeting Thursday night in Brighton.
