Riverhead Planning Board Approves Maternity Entrance Overhaul at Peconic Bay Medical Center

Riverhead Planning Board approved plans to widen and rework the maternity entrance area at Peconic Bay Medical Center, clearing the way for a series of site improvements aimed at smoother patient drop-off and safer pedestrian access along Route 58. The administrative approval covers work within a 30,698-square-foot portion of the hospital property and is intended to improve circulation for patients and visitors to the maternity unit.

Planned construction calls for widening the entrance road, adding dedicated pedestrian access and curbwork, creating a drop-off area and new concrete walks, and installing a small sitting area. The scope also includes drainage improvements, landscaping and pavement markings. Peconic Bay Medical Center is part of Northwell Health, and the changes focus on the stretch of property that fronts Route 58, where approach and departure can be congested during peak hours.

The Planning Board granted the approvals at its Jan. 15 meeting under administrative review procedures. Because the decision was administrative, it covered specific site improvements within the footprint described and does not reflect larger expansion plans for hospital services. The authorization allows the medical center to move forward with detailed site work and to pursue any remaining permits required for construction.

For Riverhead residents, the changes are likely to mean easier access to the hospital’s maternity services and a more defined pedestrian route to the entrance. The addition of a drop-off area and concrete walks is expected to reduce the need for passengers to exit into traffic lanes and to provide a safer path for those arriving on foot or by wheelchair. Landscaping and a sitting area may also offer a more welcoming arrival experience for families.

The Planning Board addressed several other local projects at the same meeting. It granted administrative approval for site improvements at a business in Calverton and issued preliminary site plan approval for a proposed wet retail commercial building on West Main Street. Those decisions signal continued commercial activity in both the industrial Calverton corridor and downtown Riverhead.

Next steps for the hospital project include finalizing construction plans and obtaining any remaining municipal or county permits before mobilizing contractors. Residents should expect construction-related activity at the Route 58 entrance once those permits are in place, which could bring temporary traffic adjustments during site work.

The approved improvements are a targeted, practical upgrade to a key community health access point, and they represent a local investment in safer, more efficient hospital access for expectant parents and other visitors.