On Monday we gave you the schedules for lane closures along three local sections of the Belt Parkway undergoing construction. At the time, pothole repairs were just announced and it was suggested that closures related to the Seven Bridges Project would be suspended. That information was incorrect and we have updated the original post to reflect that.
In sum, ALL THREE PROJECTS ARE BEING DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY, AND ALL CLOSURES ARE IN EFFECT!
Just to make things clearer and gathered in one place, here again are the schedules for the lane closures. Safe driving!
UPDATE #2: (3/10/10 2:31 p.m.) We just got word from the Community Outreach Liason for the Seven Bridges Project that our assumption was incorrect: ALL THREE PROJECTS ARE RUNNING SIMULTANEOUSLY. That means THERE ARE THREE SECTIONS OF THE BELT PARKWAY EXPERIENCING LANE CLOSURES. The schedule for lane closures on all three projects are posted below.
UPDATE: (3/8/10 1:00 p.m.) Due to emergency pothole repairs between Pennsylvania Avenue and the Mill Basin Bridge, work on the Seven Bridges Project has been suspended. In addition to the two projects, emergency pothole repairs are being done between Pennsylvania Avenue and the Mill Basin Bridge, spurring additional lane closures. We are in the process of confirming which lane closures are currently in effect, but to the best of our knowledge b Beginning tonight a third set of lane closures (also below) are being put in place. , while the Seven Bridges lane closures are temporarily terminated. The pothole repairs are expected to continue until March 22.
Original post
More precise lane closure information was released last week regarding the East 8th Street/Guider Avenue Bridge reconstruction. Previously, we heard somewhat conflicting reports of when and how lanes would be closed, but the following information comes from the Department of Transportation (via Community Board 15). These closures, of course, are occurring simultaneously to closures related to the Seven Bridges Project. I’ve included the schedule for those closures as well, so that you can find the information all in one place.
Well, it appears the Belt Parkway overpass at Nostrand Avenue (and Shore Parkway) is once again a safe place to film a John Woo flick.
In response to yesterday’s post, “NYC DOT Murders Babies,” a crew has been dispatched to cut holes in the wire mesh and free the trapped, starving pigeons.
Sheepshead Bites makes a motion to rename this DOT team the Rainbow Division. Anyone second this motion?
Traffic backs up to Neptune Avenue, forcing the DOT to remove parking spots at Avenue Z
This Wednesday, Department of Transportation workers arrived on Coney Island Avenue and Avenue Z and sawed down parking meters in front of the 99-Cent Store. The spaces are being used as a right turn lane for the duration of the Guider Avenue/East 8th Street Bridge reconstruction project.
The city made the move to replace the meters with “No Standing Anytime” signs after community complaints poured in about traffic backups all the way to Neptune Avenue. Because of construction on the bridge, commuters seeking Belt Parkway West are being detoured over the Coney Island Avenue bridge to Avenue Z.
North-bound Coney Island Avenue now has four lanes – two continuing north, one left turn, and one right turn. The project is scheduled to last from 12 to 18 months.
In the two days since the change has been in effect, we’ve heard that it has only been a minor improvement, as the bigger problem comes from people attempting to use the 99 cent store parking lot. Cars going in and out block off traffic coming from the Volkswagen garage and Shore Parkway North. We’ve also heard that at the worst times, traffic is still backed up to Neptune Avenue.
Residents, get ready for another Belt Parkway boondoggle!
During Manhattan Beach Community Group’s January 27 meeting, Community Board 15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo explained the three projects occurring simultaneously in our area. We’ve already written about these projects, and nothing has changed, but it’s worth watching the video to see Scavo’s frustration with the plans as well MBCG member’s shocked reactions. The projects (and links to our coverage) are:
The reconstruction of the East 8th Street Bridge (a.k.a. Guider Avenue Bridge) over the Belt Parkway will kick off “on or about February 17.” As we noted last week, the Belt Parkway will see closures, including periodic 15-minute open-close intervals, as the contractor sees fit. The document below, circulated by the DOT and sent to us by Community Board 15, says the new bridge will have a 75-year life and will be completed May 2011.
Most significant of the new bus cuts in our area is the “shortened” service of the B4, which completely removes the only bus that runs along the Sheepshead Bay waterfront and to the United Artists movie theater. Though the bus line was never great to begin with, it remains the only line Plumb Beach residents can rely on to take them laterally across Brooklyn. Now, though, all service between Coney Island Avenue and Knapp Street has been cancelled.
Other local bus lines affected include the B1, B2, B3, B9, and B31. BKSouthie.com has a good report summing up the changes across Southern South Brooklyn.
Just a quick thought that came to me as I wrote this: it appears almost all of the affected bus lines run east-west, lines that connected Brooklyn communities with other Brooklyn communities rather than bring commuters in the general direction of Manhattan. It almost seems as if the bureaucrats designing this mess think the desirable place to go is Manhattan, almost a total reflection of their Manhattan-centric mentality. Almost.
Though a member of SBPB Civic said they hadn’t received confirmation as recently as yesterday, if the official does come it may be interesting to see the interrogation he faces as the project moves forward simultaneously with other projects. In addition to the work we wrote about yesterday, other parts of Belt Parkway are seeing changes to drainage systems and road repairs, possibly leading to detours into the streets. And in 2011, several overpasses in our neighborhood will be renovated as well.
When: Tonight @ 7:30 p.m.
Where: Knights of Columbus Baron DeKalb; Nostrand Avenue and Emmons Avenue
Contact: (718) 891-1937
The proposed overhaul of Paerdegat Basin Bridge includes building two new structures and demolishing the existing bridge
At 10:00 p.m. tonight, Department of Transportation workers will shut down lanes in both directions of the Belt Parkway, moving forward with a seven-year renovation plan of the highway’s bridges and overpasses.
The first lane closures will occur between the Fresh Creek and the Paerdegat Bridges. The closures – which occur during nights, weekends, and non-rush hour afternoons – are required for the installation of temporary concrete barriers, lighting, and paving and the removal of existing lighting systems and median guiderail. The expected duration of this phase of work is 6 to 8 weeks.
The changes to Coney Island Avenue intersections as proposed by DOT
Local leaders are looking for ways to put the brakes on what they say are dangerous and complicated changes around the Coney Island Avenue Belt Parkway overpass being proposed following a Department of Transportation study.
The changes proposed for Coney Island Avenue between Guider Avenue and Neptune Avenue are as follows:
Southbound cars on Coney Island Avenue will no longer be able to make a left turn on Guider Avenue, and instead will have to go to Neptune Avenue.
On the northbound side of Coney Island Avenue, parking will be eliminated altogether between Neptune Avenue and Guider Avenue.
Also on the northbound side: a left turn lane will be implemented for the westbound Belt Parkway entrance; a no-turn lane for those continuing on Coney Island Avenue; and a lane for those accessing Belt Parkway East, taking drivers past the car wash.
But the plans have sparked anger from civic group leaders and Community Board 15 for overlooking simple solutions and instead embracing complicated changes that are dangerous to drivers and threaten businesses.
