County Route 31 (Suffolk County, New York)

Infobox NY County Route
county=Suffolk
route=31
road_name=Old Riverhead Road
length_mi=4.0
length_round=1
length_ref= [ [http://www.greaternyroads.info/pdfs/suffcr.pdf Suffolk County Department of Public Works] ]
established=1930(1972)
direction_a=South
starting_terminus=
junction=
direction_b=North
ending_terminus=

Suffolk County Route 31 is a short north-south county highway running across rural eastern Suffolk County. The road serves as a connection between Westhampton Beach and the Riverhead area, feeding directly into Suffolk County Route 104 as it makes its way north.

Route description

The road begins at Montauk Highway (CR 80), just north of the downtown area of Westhampton Beach. It serves in function as a continuation of Oak Street, which heads south to connect with the town's main street before crossing over to the Dune Road beaches.

Heading north, this arrow-straight portion of the road crosses the Long Island Railroad's Montauk Branch railroad tracks and then runs through the grounds of Francis S. Gabreski Airport, a former base of the United States Air Force, which is now home to the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard.

North of the base, the road continues through a section of the Long Island Central Pine Barrens, which feature the indigenous dwarf pine. This area fell victim to a widespread wildfire that burned a significant portion of the core of the Pine Barrens in 1995.

The road widens as it crosses New York State Route 27, with which it has a full cloverleaf. About one-half mile beyond this interchange, the road ends at a "Y" intersection with CR 104.

History

Between January 18, 1961 and May 23, 1972, Suffolk CR 31 was extended south of Montauk Highway between Oak Street and Mill Road(formerly Suffolk County Road 100). It should also be noted that Mill Road was intended to be converted into part of the formerly proposed Port Jefferson-Westhampton Beach Highway.

References