....June 19, 3:05 PM
	LIRR Weekenders Should Expect Delays By Ben Hogwood Some Long Island Rail Road commuters should expect serious schedule changes over the coming weeks so switch and signal improvement work can be conducted at a critical track point between Queens Village and Bellerose. The project will begin and end with two major weekends of service changes. The first will be on the Hempstead Branch on the weekend of June 21-22. During this weekend, there will be a 48-hour shutdown of the branch with buses replacing trains between Hempstead and Jamaica. A second 48-hour shutdown will occur on the weekend of Aug. 23-24, when work will require the shutdown of the entire Main Line with buses replacing trains between Jamaica and Mineola. The work will affect the Hempstead, Oyster Bay and Port Jefferson branches, as well as the Ronkonkoma branch. The Queens Interlocking Switch and Signal Improvement project, as it is officially called, will replace the current signal system with microprocessor technology and replace the current track switches with high-speed crossovers at a cost of $60.4 million. “By installing state-of-the-art technology and switches in this essential section of the railroad, our customers will enjoy a smoother ride and fewer maintenanc-related track outages,” said LIRR President Helena Williams. “During construction, we ask for our customers’ patience and for them to stay alert of the schedule changes.” For more information, contact the LIRR’s 24-hour travel information center in Suffolk County at (631) 231-LIRR, in Nassau County at (516) 822-LIRR or in New York City at (718) 217-LIRR, or go visit its Web site at www.mta.info/lirr.