FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM AUGUST 29, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
Long way to go for Flushing & Bayside water main work
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
@jenna_bagcal
It’s been causing headaches for drivers
and residents alike for months, but the
ongoing Bayside sewer and water main
replacement project is nearly a third of
the way done, according to the project’s
contractor.
Since the Department of Design and
Construction (DDC) and Long Island
City-based construction firm CAC
Industries broke ground in May 2018,
workers have completed approximately
30 percent of all upgrades on the project.
Th e $62.5 million project aims to upgrade
all sewers and water mains in Bayside and
neighboring Flushing.
“At this point, CAC is doing everything
possible to fi nish on time. We are currently
simultaneously working on several
locations with multiple crews in order
to expedite the timely completion of
the project,” said Project Manager Boris
Sirunyan.
Th e entire project spans 33rd Avenue
from 156th Street to Utopia Parkway and
37th, 38th and 39th avenues from Utopia
Parkway to 216th Street. DDC and CAC
hope to have the project completed by
2021.
Sirunyan said that there are several
crews onsite currently working at four
locations:
• Francis Lewis Boulevard and 38th
Avenue;
• 38th Avenue and 209th Street;
• 37th Avenue and 192nd Street; and
• 33rd Avenue and 162nd Street.
According to Sirunyan, construction
typically takes place from Monday to
Friday, though sometimes CAC crews do
work on weekends and evenings in certain
business areas per Department of
Transportation permits and DDC specifi
cations.
Th e project, which the Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) funds,
includes over seven miles of new water
mains, new storm and sanitary sewers
and 80 new fi re hydrants and catch basins.
Parking in the area has been at a premium
since construction began and residents,
as well as people who work in
the area, have experienced trouble fi nding
spots. Sirunyan said that CAC representatives
and the DDC offi ce constantly
monitor locations to see if residents can
resume parking.
“A construction zone is not only the
actual trench but equipment, trucking.
All this needs some space to operate,”
Sirunyan said.
Th e speed of the project
(or lack thereof, according
to some in the community)
has been of great concern
to Councilman Paul
Vallone.
“I am troubled by the
poor street conditions
that have developed in
areas of Bayside as a result
of the ongoing sewer
and water main project,”
Vallone told QNS back in
May. “My offi ce will continue
to relay the community’s
concerns and
advocate for prompt road
repair work to both DDC
and the lead contractor
for the project.”
For residents interested
in project information
and updates, contact
Community Construction
Liaison Letisha James at qed991ccl@
gmail.com.
Three found shot dead in cars in southeast Queens
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
edavenport@qns.com
@QNS
Th ree men were killed in two separate
shootings during a violent Monday on
the streets of southeast Queens, police
reported.
Authorities say that 3:47 p.m. on
Aug. 26, police responded to a 911 call
regarding a man shot in the vicinity of
Springfi eld Boulevard and 140th Avenue
in Springfi eld Gardens.
Upon their arrival, offi cers from the
113th Precinct found 21-year-old David
Hutchinson, of Avenue M in Brooklyn,
sitting in a vehicle with gunshot wounds
to his chest and buttocks.
EMS rushed Hutchinson to Jamaica
Hospital, where he was pronounced
dead.
At 9:24 p.m. that same day, offi cers
from the 105th Precinct responded to a
911 call regarding two men shot inside
a vehicle on the corner of 149th Drive
and 255th Street in Rosedale. Upon their
arrival, police found two men inside a
2018 Kia sedan, unconscious and unresponsive,
with multiple gunshot wounds
to their bodies.
Sources familiar with the investigation
say that three unknown black men
in a white SUV initially drove past the
victims in their car, made a U-turn and
then shot at the victims. Th e SUV the
fl ed the scene.
EMS responded to the location and
pronounced the victims dead at the
scene. Th e victims’ identities are being
Photo by Jenna Bagcal/QNS
Photo via Getty Images
withheld pending proper family notifi -
cation.
At this time, police do not believe
that the two shootings are connected. It
is unclear what the motives are behind
both shootings.
No arrests have been made at this time.
Both investigations are ongoing.
Excavator on the corner of 216th Street and 38th Avenue
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