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QUEENS WEEKLY, AUGUST 30, 2020
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, 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 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.
Assemblywoman Stacey Pfeffer Amato, state Senator Joseph Addabbo and Councilman Eric Ulrich after the
ribbon-cutting ceremony. Photo by Dean Moses
ASTORIA TIMES ■ BAYSIDE TIMES
FLUSHING TIMES ■ FOREST HILLS LEDGER
FRESH MEADOWS TIMES
JACKSON HEIGHTS TIMES ■ JAMAICA TIMES
LAURELTON TIMES ■ LITTLE NECK LEDGER
QUEENS VILLAGE TIMES ■ RIDGEWOOD LEDGER
WHITESTONE TIMES
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