Update: Branch Boulevard Now Partially Open

Update, 11-30-12: Branch Boulevard is now open with one lane in both directions, as the county originally told Patch.

Original story follows:

Nassau County has begun reparing Branch Boulevard, half of which collapsed as a result of Superstorm Sandy.

The road, a major thoroughfare to the Five Towns for residents of North Woodmere and its surrounding areas, has been closed off for about three weeks now. The county expects the road to be open with one lane in each direction by Nov. 30, with all work scheduled to be complete by Christmastime, according to Mike Martino, a spokesperson for Nassau County Department of Public Works.

"The county will reconstruct the washed-out section of Branch Boulevard and embankment of Cedar Point Lake and stabilize embankment in the area of washout with erosion control fabric," he told Patch, "and rip rap, reconstruct the damaged sidewalk, parking lot, guide rail and other affected areas."

Teri Schure, a North Woodmere resident and executive director of the Cedarhurst Business Improvement District, said the closing of the road has been a major inconvenience for her and her neighbors, and could have implications on business in the village.

"We’re basically cut off from the only thoroughfare [to Cedarhurst]," she said. "It’s very important to this business district for prompt repairs."

Martino, meanwhile, said, "We can all hope another storm as fierce as Sandy never comes to Long Island ever again."