County, from the Nassau border to NY 110 in Melville, began in February 1960. Supporters of the highway believed that its completion would reduce traffic on Long Island's west–east arterial roads. Over the next decade, the completion of the LIE in Suffolk County spurred significant population growth in communities along its route. Over one-third of the LIE within Suffolk County—a section from Melville to Veterans Memorial Highway (now NY 454) near Islandia—was opened to traffic between 1962 and 1963. A extension of the LIE from Oyster Bay Road to NY 110 opened in August 1962, bringing the highway into Suffolk County. The rest of the highway to Islandia was constructed simultaneously. A extension from NY 110 to Deer Park Road opened in October 1962, followed the next month by another segment from Deer Park Road to Commack Road. A further extension opened to NY 454 in August 1963. Three more sections of the LIE, rom Islandia to exit 71 near Riverhead, were completed in 1969 and 1970. A discontinuous section of highway between William Floyd Parkway and exit 71 opened in June 1969 and was extended west to Holbrook in December 1969. A segment between Horse Brook Road and Holbrook, connecting the two sections of the LIE, continued for several months. After this section opened on June 9, 1970, the LIE was continuous between Manhattan and Riverhead. There were delays in constructing the easternmost of the LIE from exit 71 to CR 58. The extension to CR 58 opened to traffic on June 28, 1972. Modifications Officials had originally predicted that the LIE would carry 80,000 vehicles per day by 1970. In part, because of induced demand, the highway was ineffective in reducing traffic. By 1962, the LIE had reached its peak capacity, carrying between 125,000 and 150,000 vehicles per day. Officials considered constructing four reversible lanes above the existing highway in Queens; this plan would have cost about $100 million (equivalent to $ in ). New York City's commissioner of highways also proposed constructing a monorail to alleviate congestion on I-495 in Queens. These plans did not come to fruition, and, by the late 1960s, average rush-hour speeds were about . The Queens section of I-495 alone carried 180,000 vehicles per day. Major chokepoints existed at the interchanges with I-278, the Grand Central Parkway, I-678, I-295, and the Cross Island Parkway. The westbound roadway between Junction Boulevard and 108th