Staff from Paul Davis Restoration perform carols and deliver Christmas cards to residents of Queens
Center for Progress group homes. Photo courtesy of QCP
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.2 COM | DEC. 25-DEC. 31, 2020
BY BILL PARRY
The state’s Department of
Transportation announced
that construction has begun
on a $14.3 project to rehabilitate
the Astoria Boulevard
Bridge that spans the
eastbound Brooklyn-Queens
Expressway ramp that takes
traffic to the eastbound
Grand Central Parkway.
The construction, due to
be completed in spring 2022,
will enhance safety and improve
driving conditions
on a well-traveled roadway
that’s home to many stores
and businesses and serves as
an important access route to
LaGuardia Airport.
The project will feature a
new roadway deck, new steel
beams and upgrade lighting
and drainage that will improve
travel along the boulevard.
“The project is part of
Governor Cuomo’s ongoing
commitment to restore
aging infrastructure and
build it back better than before,
creating a more resilient
transportation network
that promotes growth and
improves quality of life,”
DOT Commissioner Marie
Therese Dominguez said.
“Once completed, this muchneeded
project in Queens
will improve travel on one
of the borough’s most important
roadways and help keep
people and commerce on the
move for decades to come.”
The project will replace
the bridge’s existing steel
beams with new, rust-resistant
beams to reduce the
need for painting. It will also
feature stainless-steel rebar
to prevent corrosion inside
the roadway deck and have
fewer joints that will reduce
water leakage and minimize
damage to structural elements.
“The start of this bridge
rehabilitation project is a
major step forward in the
effort to improve safety and
driving conditions along
Astoria Boulevard,” Queens
Borough President Donovan
Richards said. “Governor
Cuomo and Commissioner
Dominguez should be commended
for prioritizing this
important work. We look forward
to enjoying the smoother
and safer rides this project
will bring.”
Once construction is completed,
the project will also
give motorists a smoother
riding surface.
“The rehabilitation of the
Astoria Boulevard Bridge
over the eastbound Brooklyn-
Queens Expressway is going
to go a long way in keeping
both drivers passing through
and our pedestrians safe
along Astoria Boulevard, one
of my usual running routes,”
state Senator Jessica Ramos
said. “I am ecstatic to see the
ground break on this important
project and look forward
to seeing its completion.”
Motorists must use caution
when traveling through
highway work zones and are
reminded that fines are doubled
for speeding in a work
zone. In accordance with the
Work Zone Safety Act of 2005,
convictions of two or more
speeding violations in a
work zone could result in the
suspension of an individual’s
driver’s license.
BY BILL PARRY
It has been a difficult year
for the residents and staff of
Queens Centers for Progress,
the agency that provides person
centered services and support
for children and adults
with developmental disabilities,
but they were on the receiving
end of a kind holiday
gesture courtesy of the staff of
Paul Davis Restoration.
The company, located in
Bellerose, wanted to do something
nice for those living and
working at QCP’s nine group
homes. Because the COVID-
19 pandemic has disrupted so
many lives and persists in altering
social gatherings and
traditions during the winter
holidays, traditional programming
has been limited or canceled
for residents in group
homes.
When Paul Davis Restoration
learned about the individuals
in QCP’s residential
program, the company wanted
to do something festive and
personal for their Bellerose
neighbors. But they had to be
creative to adhere to social
distancing requirements. So,
three of their account managers
got busy and wrote personal
messages by hand in holiday
cards for each of QCP’s 78
residents and they hatched a
plan to enlist their coworkers
in delivering the cards while
singing Christmas carols to
the residents and staff of the
group homes.
“As a Bellerose neighbor to
QCP, Paul Davis Restoration
is honored to be a new friend
and resource to this nonprofit,
which does such wonderful
work for individuals with developmental
disabilities as
well as local small businesses,”
said Claire McCarthy, the
account executive who spearheaded
the initiative. “While
our companies have different
focuses, our combined resources
can inspire unique
and mutually rewarding collaborations
such as this holiday
project.”
Despite the threat of heavy
snow last week, the show went.
“We are so thrilled by this
gesture,” QCP’s Executive Director
Terri Ross said. “Our individuals
have been through a
rough time since the pandemic
started, and for their health
and safety, their interactions
among the community have
been limited. This will absolutely
list the spirits of our residents
and our amazing staff,
who have worked tirelessly
during this long and difficult
year. We cannot thank Paul
Davis Restoration enough.”
The company serves the
five boroughs when fire, water,
storm, mold or other disasters
cause property damage
and during the pandemic it
can also perform professional
COVID-19 cleaning and contaminants
services. They also
proved adept at restoring the
holiday spirit among some
that could use it most during
these most difficult times.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
Construction is underway on Astoria Boulevard Bridge’s $14.3
million rehabilitation project. Courtesy NYS DOT
State DOT begins $14.3M
construction project on
Astoria Boulevard Bridge
Queens group homes receive
neighborly love for the holidays
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