§ 14-i. Long Island expressway; design and construction. 1. The commissioner shall prepare an environmental impact statement on the project to add travel lanes to the Long Island expressway between exits forty-nine and fifty-seven in accordance with the provisions of Article 8 of the environmental conservation law.

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2. The commissioner shall prepare an environmental impact statement on projects to add travel lanes to the Long Island expressway from exits thirty to sixty-four in accordance with the provisions of Article 8 of the environmental conservation law.

3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a project to add travel lanes to the Long Island expressway between exits forty-nine and fifty-seven shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to have independent utility and not be deemed part of any long-range plan and other potential highway improvement projects on Long Island are not to be deemed likely to be undertaken as a result thereof or to be dependent thereon.

4. a. The design for the project to add travel lanes to the Long Island expressway between exits forty-nine and fifty-seven, shall commence forthwith. Such design shall proceed concurrent with the environmental review process required by subdivision one of this section, and may, to the extent necessary, focus on a design alternative or alternatives. Preparation of a design shall not be a commitment to an action by the department prior to the completion of the environmental review process.

b. The department shall not commence construction until the department has considered the final environmental impact statement and made findings pursuant to subdivision one of this section.

c. The preparation of a design or designs shall not be deemed to have prejudiced any decision-making pursuant to Article 8 of the environmental conservation law.