As expected, the Guider Avenue/East 8th Street Bridge reconstruction began yesterday. The overpass has been closed, and we heard some reports during yesterday evening’s rush hour of total madness in the area. The Belt Parkway was standstill, and surrounding streets – including Neptune Avenue and Avenue Z – were packed with confused drivers trying to find alternate routes.
As a reminder, in order to access the Belt Parkway West from Coney Island Avenue and Guider Avenue, continue north on Coney Island Avenue until Avenue Z. Make a left onto Hubbard Street, where they’ve just installed a stop light to deal with the additional traffic. Then make a right onto the Shore Parkway service road.
If possible avoid the area entirely during rush hour in either direction. If people can suggest an alternate route to efficiently bypass the Belt Parkway between Ocean Parkway and Knapp Street, Sheepshead Bites’ readers will have a leg up on other commuters.
Related stories:
Video: Scavo Says “Beware” Belt Parkway Projects
East 8th St. Bridge Reconstruction Begins Next Week
15-Minute Closures to Haunt Belt Parkway
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Teresa
I'm sure you're likely to read this so perhaps you can pass my suggestion along to DOT. For the duration of the detour they should remove the 3 or 4 parking spots next to the 99c store. They already have a parking lot (the traffic from which already causes a problem over there but nothing can be done about that) so loosing 3 parking spots temporarily will not hurt the business. But that whole length of street could then be used as a full Right Turn Lane. It will put less pressure on the two center lanes. Furthermore, the traffic light's in the entire area need to be retimed and synched properly. If they are it would relieve a lot of the pressure. The lots all across Ave Z between Ocean Parkway and all the way to East 15th are not timed well. Each very short block is getting overloaded and that's very dangerous. If possible a traffic direction officer should be dispatched to the intersection of Ave Z and Coney Island Ave to manage traffic during Rush Hours. They can control the flow of traffic and manage the “que” better then the red light can. It will be safer and we'll have less pile ups.
My advice for Drivers! LISTEN UP. Most of this advice presumes you're in an affected area, such as south of the belt or moving into the affected area.
If you're taking the Belt Parkway West to ultimately get to Manhattan from Manhattan Beach, Coney or Brighton then I suggest you simply avoid the Belt all together. Proceed North via Ocean Parkway to the Prospect Expressway. If you insist on taking the belt here are two sneaky ways to avoid sitting in traffic. Take Oceanview to Ocean Parkway, or Take Brighton 10th to Neptune (it's a very bumpy street), and hop the East 12th Bridge over the belt. Take the first right to Homecrest and then another right. You'll hit Shore Parkway and you can slip unto the Belt very easily from there. Either of these options should be FASTER (though Longer) then sitting in traffic over the CIA Bridge and Ave Z/Hubbard. Finally, if there is no actual traffic on the Belt you can go EAST to Knapp Street and then just turn around there and head west.
Remember, these are tips on avoiding traffic and congestion. They are longer milage wise but, considering the conditions around the area, it will get you where you're going substantially faster.
By the way, If the Belt itself is going slowly to the west, consider taking Neptune or Surf Ave to Cropsey Ave. You'll move faster via the traffic lights even in moderate traffic, then the traffic on the belt. Then you can enter the Belt at Cropsey or proceed North via Cropsey (take Harway to avoid Construction on Cropsey) to Bay Parkway or all the way to Bay 8th.
If you're on Emmons heading west, then I recommend simply shooting north at Sheepshead Bay Road and snagging the belt there.
I agree about the parking spots in front of the 99 cents store. But good luck if you think people won't sit in their cars there anyway. The same way they double park there right now. The DOT has put traffic agents at C.I.A./Ave Z and at Ave. Z/Hubbard Street. Everything you mention will help things tremendously but it's going to be a nightmare regardless.
When I drove by I saw one “Safety Officer” standing around looking dumbfounded. No, we don't need 3 fucking meter maids re-assigned to “direct” traffic. We need a trained traffic officer. Do those even exist anymore or am I just thinking of some alternate universe?
i said that was going to happen. i think they put up a a left turn signal to ave z. it still wont help.
The construction on the Guider Avenue Bridge has caused lengthy delays to those traveling north on Coney Island Avenue. I spoke with the DOT representative today and she reassured me that as of noon today the Traffic Agents that were directing traffic on the Avenues would be in front of the 99cent store moving double parked cars. If by Wednesday the problem has not eased then the parking in front of the store would be removed for the length of the project. We are trying enforcement before taking away valuable parking spots. I will check tomorrow to see if there is any change.
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