STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll announced Thursday that design is underway on an estimated $7.5 million project to improve operations on the southbound West Shore Expressway.

The project includes constructing an auxiliary lane between the Victory Boulevard entrance and the Muldoon/Arden Avenues exit.

Construction is expected to begin in summer 2018.

"A continuous lane connecting the entrance and exit ramps will reduce congestion and improve traffic mobility by providing a longer distance for vehicles to merge and exit," Driscoll said. "I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of Governor Cuomo to make transportation improvements that improve safety and enhance the quality of life on Staten Island."

The project will reconfigure and reconstruct the existing shoulders to provide a continuous lane connecting the entrance ramp from Victory Boulevard with the exit ramp to Muldoon/Arden Avenues (Exit 5) on the southbound West Shore Expressway. This will provide additional distance to accommodate the large volume of traffic merging onto the expressway from Victory Boulevard.

It will also eliminate the conflict between traffic merging onto the expressway from Victory Boulevard and traffic accessing Muldoon/Arden Avenues at Exit 5.

State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) said that a new auxiliary lane between the Victory Boulevard entrance and Muldoon/Arden Avenues exit will "reduce congestion and greatly enhance safety and accessibility."

"This transportation improvement is one which I have long supported and is sorely needed," Lanza said in a statement. "I commend and thank Governor Cuomo for delivering this project which will provide great benefit to the people of Staten Island and the region. I look forward to working with Commissioner Driscoll and the Department of Transportation as they make this project a reality."

Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island) issued the following statement: "The West Shore Expressway is a vital artery for thousands of commuters, buses, commercial vehicles, and intra-Island motorists and all of them can attest to the dramatic slowdown that occurs between the Victory Boulevard entrance and the Arden Avenue exit in the evening rush hour. I am proud to have worked with Governor Cuomo and State DOT to create the auxiliary lane on this troublesome stretch of the West Shore Expressway."

Staten Island Borough President James Oddo commended the governor and commissioner for the traffic fix that he believes will improve Staten Islanders' quality-of-life.

"This is great news for South Shore residents, and even better news than we were expecting. Honestly, I was expecting a small improvement, such as a simple re-striping, after my discussions this summer with State DOT," Oddo said in a statement. "This news of a new auxiliary lane definitely exceeds my expectations, and hopefully will help break the cycle of congestion on the southbound West Shore Expressway.