CITY COMPLETES OPENING PHASE OF $46M
STREET RAISING PROJECT IN BROAD CHANNEL
BY BILL PARRY
The city has completed phase one
of Broad Channel’s extreme makeover.
The ambitious $46 million project
raised streets and added nearly half
a mile of new storm sewers to reduce
flooding in an area that is frequently
inundated by Jamaica Bay during
high tide and storms.
“This is a unique part of Queens
that is highly vulnerable to flooding
because of climate change and rising
sea levels, and the city went above
and beyond to not just add storm sewers
but also to raise the streets,” Department
of Design and Construction
Commissioner Lorraine Grillo said.
“We look forward to working with the
Department of Environmental Protection
and the Department of Transportation
to bring these improvements to
other parts of Broad Channel.”
Phase two of the work, a $67.7 million
project that will affect an even
larger adjacent area, began this summer
and is anticipated to be completed
by summer 2024.
“The residents and businesses of
Broad Channel have a special relationship
with the natural world and
Jamaica Bay in particular,” DEP
Commissioner Vincent Sapienza said.
“These New Yorkers are on the front
lines of our changing climate and we
were so pleased to join with our partner
agencies to bring them some real
relief with raised roadways and new
catch basins, sewers and outfalls to
drain the water from the roadways
and away from their properties.”
West 11th Road, West 12th Road
and West 13th Road from Cross Bay
Boulevard west to the waterline were
all rebuilt from the ground up during
the project on more than 40,000 feet of
piles driven 50 feet or more into the
ground. The new streets are approximately
two feet higher than before
and now have 2,300 feet of new storm
sewers with nine new catch basins,
Assemblywoman Stacey Pfeffer Amato, state Senator Joseph Addabbo and Councilman Eric Ulrich after the ribbon-cutting
ceremony. Photo by Dean Moses
plus new bulkheads and outfalls that
were added at the end of each street
to allow stormwater to drain into the
bay. “As we all know, this is an area
that was hard-hit by Sandy, and this
massive street raising initiative will
help mitigate the flooding in vulnerable
areas throughout this community,”
Councilman Eric Ulrich said. “I
would also like to thank the residents
TIMESLEDGER | 10 QNS.COM | AUG. 28-SEPT. 3, 2020
of Broad Channel, who have been extremely
patient throughout this entire
process. Phase one was a great
success, and we look forward to the
completion of phase two, which will
bring the same improvements to West
14th Road, West 15th Road, West 16th
Road and West 17th Road.”
Nearly 2,400 feet of sanitary sewers
and 2,400 feet of water mains were
replaced to ensure reliable water and
sewage service, while nine fire hydrants
were replaced to improve fire
protection.
“This project, with its new storm
sewers and raised streets, will go a
long way in protecting this vulnerable
community from large storms and
flooding, thus improving the living
conditions in Broad Channel,” state
Senator Joseph Addabbo said.
During the final restoration of the
area, 2,500 feet of curbs and sidewalks
were rebuilt and four new pedestrian
ramps were added at Cross Bay Boulevard
to improve safety and ADA accessibility.
“Today we have reached a great
milestone for the Broad Channel community,
who for years have fought to
protect their residents from flooding
and water damage from storms and
other extreme weather events,” Assemblywoman
Stacey Pheffer Amato
said. “By investing in innovative infrastructure
measures now, we are
preventing future loss of homes and
property, and saving ourselves millions
of dollars in the long run. This
victory today was only achieved
through hard work on a granular
level: constant phone calls with all
stakeholders, meetings with contractors
and individual homeowners, and
numerous information sessions led
by Dan Mundy Jr. and the Civic Association.”
To manage the needs of residents
and businesses during phase two
construction, DDC has a full-time
Community Construction Liaison
assigned to the project. Anna Killion
keeps the neighborhood apprised of
construction progress, coordinates
street closures and utility shut-offs,
and can arrange special requests
such as deliveries to local homes and
businesses. Killion works on-site and
can be reached at 347-374-0930 or by
email at Killionan@ddc.nyc.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail
at bparry@schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4538.
/QNS.COM
link
link
link
link
