2
QUEENS WEEKLY, MARCH 31, 2019
Grand Street Bridge
replacement prolonged
BY MARK HALLUM
Community Board 5’s
Transportation Committee
reveled at the announced
completion date for the
Grand Street Bridge replacement
with the window
being 2027.
Department of Transportation
told CB5 representatives
that the rebuild
of the 115-year-old structure,
which has not been
moveable since around the
time of Superstorm Sandy,
will not go into design until
2021, and work will not even
start until 2023.
“Is it gonna stand up that
long?” one attendee at the
meeting asked, followed by
a question from CB5 Chair
Vincent Arcuri as to whether
or not it will be a fully operational
moveable bridge.
On Jan. 22, the advisory
body received notification
from DOT that the agency
would be securing a firm
to fulfill an RFP put out in
June for the replacement of
the aging structure within
the 90 days.
“The existing bridge
does not meet current
structural, seismic and geometric
design standard requirements,”
the RFP stated.
“After over 113 years,
the bridge has reached the
end of its service life.”
The bridge was built in
1903. The push to replace
the Grand Street Bridge has
been 16 years in the making
after the hurricane wiped
out its ability to rotate, allowing
larger boats to pass
through Newtown Creek
and connecting industrial
facilities in the south end of
the waterway.
The current bridge is
narrow at a 19 foot, 7 inch
width, which CB5 District
Manager Gary Giordano
gives credit to drivers who
manage the tight squeeze between
Photos by Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech
Maspeth and Brooklyn
with few conflicts.
“It is an example of how
cooperative one can be that
people can stop and let another
vehicle go by. I wish
other drivers on other roads
and bridges were as considerate
these drivers are. We
need more consideration on
our roads and bridges,” Giordano
said in January.
The RFP further illustrated
that the electrical
components are antiquated,
the fenders are deteriorated
and the structural state of
the bridge is not up to task
for its current workload.
Contractors awarded the
contract will be required to
provide a replacement with a
minimum 75-year lifespan.
Although in the first
decade of the bridge’s service
it was heavily utilized,
opening 5,000 times in 1918
alone, it has not been recorded
to have done this
since 2012.
Average clearance for
boats to pass under the
bridge is 9 feet, according
to Giordano. But high tide
is the only they are able to
since low tide makes the
creek much too shallow.
The project is to be
funded in its entirety by the
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway
Administration, and the
original envelope was to see
completion by 2026.
On two occasions in September
and October 2018,
the bridge was completely
closed for repairs to the
steel grating. Diagonal bracing
work also shut down the
bridge more recently.
Bayside’s fi eld of dreams
Worn-out ballpark diamonds at Crocheron Park to be renovated
The baseball field at Crocheron Park. Photo via NYC Parks
BY JENNA BAGCAL
A Bayside baseball
field will finally get a
long-awaited renovation
starting this summer.
According to City
Councilman Paul Vallone,
the NYC Parks Department
will begin work on
the Crocheron Park baseball
field project on July
4.
Construction at the
site, located at 215th
Street and 35th Avenue,
is expected to be completed
in one year.
“Baseball will always
be our national pastime
and I’m proud to work
with our Parks Department
to build our kids
the field they deserve and
give them a taste of what
it’s like to play on a bigger
stage,” said Vallone.
“The major upgrades to
this field will ensure that
future generations of little
leaguers will be able
to enjoy it for years to
come, and I look forward
to kicking off the first
Bayside Little League
season at this beautiful
new field.”
The Parks Department
began planning
the baseball field reconstruction
in June 2017
and have proposed several
essential upgrades for
the property.
Parks will reconstruct
the southwest
ballfield, known as Field
3, which will include a
new infield with a clay
and sand mixture and an
outfield with topsoil and
natural turf. The steep
existing outfield along
with other grading issues
will be corrected
and existing fences will
be repaired or replaced
around the perimeter of
the ballfield.
In addition, Parks
plans to install new access
gates and paths and
dugouts will be made accessible
and furnished
with new benches, backrests
and arms. Vallone’s
office shared that the
Crocheron Park fields
will also get a new section
of bleachers, bottle
filler drinking fountains
and a manual
irrigation system.
Renovations to Field
2 include removing the
existing dugout and replacing
it with bollards
to make the field open
and accessible. Additionally,
new canopy and
understory trees will
be planted on the site
margins to add shade
and replace previously
removed trees.
The Bayside Little
League is set to start
their upcoming season at
the field in a few weeks
but will be able to finish
up their season before
renovations begin.
“We look forward to
beginning construction
on Field 3 at Crocheron
Park this summer after
the spring little league
season has wrapped up,”
said Queens Borough
Commissioner Michael
Dockett. “Our kids deserve
great places to play,
and with new infield
clay, regraded turf, water
fountains, and benches,
the new ballfield is sure
to be a home run.”
Reach reporter Jenna
Bagcal by e-mail at jbagcal@
qns.com or by phone
at (718) 224-5863 ext. 214.
link
link
/qns.com
