Well, everyone, by now you must have heard all about the Belt Parkway roadwork. The traffic has been horrendous around here, because of all the construction.
It’s driving me batty. The other day, I felt like flinging myself into the oncoming traffic, but then I figured it wasn’t nice to get others involved in my Heavenly plan. So, I abandoned the plan and plotted my big escape. Here I am about to wander into the Flatbush woods for good.
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.
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.
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.
The Guider Avenue Bridge – officially known as the East 8th Street Bridge – over the Belt Parkway near Coney Island Avenue is slated for full reconstruction. The project, expected to last between 12 and 18 months, gives the contractor full discretion over Belt Parkway closures. For portions of the work the Belt Parkway will be shut down for 15 minutes at a time, holding traffic in place while large components are moved.
In preparation for the work, most of the area has already been fenced off, some equipment is in place and detour signs are up and waiting. The bridge contractor is waiting for his permits. Once received, construction will commence immediately and the bridge will be closed. The huge structural components of the bridge will be installed at night and closures will be implemented as necessary. Drivers going northbound on Coney Island Avenue (Or westbound from Guider Avenue) will lose their easy access to the Belt Parkway West. They’ll have to detour by heading to Avenue Z, making a left and another left at Hubbard Street or Ocean Parkway.
It seems this project wasn’t included in the list of seven bridges the DOT is replacing, and the reconstruction also comes alongside drainage and guardrail renovations along the entire Belt Parkway from Coney Island Avenue to Knapp Street. With the three simultaneous projects, traffic on the Belt Parkway is expected to be a nightmare for more than a year.
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.
You may recall last week’s article about the confusing sign at Neptune Avenue and Cass Place allowing right turns on red. As of Monday morning the sign was missing in action. We’re not sure if the sign was upset by our article and decided to leave for greener pastures or if it was stolen by some prankster. Another possibility is the sign fell down due to damage; in fact last week the sign was swinging loose in the rain because the bottom rivet broke. Looking for answers Sheepshead Bites contacted Community Board 15 for some answers. They told us, “The sign was not removed by DOT. DOT will replace it as soon as possible.” While we wait for Brooklyn Borough Engineer to get back to us on what a “School Day” means we asked CB15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo for her opinion. According to Scavo, “It is meant to mean Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., September to June.” She goes on to say that the sign is mostly intended for weekend drivers.
A photograph Ned posted two days ago, showing a silver minivan and a sedan in a strange perpendicular accident, prompted me to post this even stranger photo of a minivan parked in the middle of the street. Although the minivan was not involved in an accident, there were a few near misses as visibly confused drivers passed by doing double takes.
This Honda Odyssey minivan was seen at the intersection of East 12th Street and Sheepshead Bay Road on Monday night. It was parked many feet away from the “curb.” The word curb is placed into quotation marks because it’s more of a turn at the concrete.
The minivan, parked less than a block away from the 61st Precinct building, where Sheepshead Bay Road meets East 12th Street, did not appear disabled or left for a few minutes. Instead, it seemed parked for good and did not have any emergency placard displayed or flashers blinking.
When I contacted 911 (after 311 directed me there), it took a while for them to find it on the map. I later looked it up myself in Google, and after some struggle, found this:
Lo and behold, the Google Maps Street View shows what looks like the same minivan and another car parked in the exact location. There is also a jeep parked at the curb nearby, where there is a hydrant (similar to what was observed this past week).
Apparently, this is a spot where parking is at a free-for-all. Are there any of you out there in need of a parking spot and never want to worry about a ticket? We seem to have hit on a jackpot. Not even a 911 call will get you in trouble for parking here.
Even without the threat of a ticket, would any of you leave your vehicle so vulnerable in the street?
At the far corner of Sheephead Bay, where it joins Manhattan Beach and Brighton Beach, is a sign that causes a whole mess of confusion, traffic backups, and horn honking. One might think it’s pretty clear: “After Stop Right Turn Permitted On Red Except 8am – 4pm School Days”. You might ask yourself what’s so confusing about this sign on Neptune Avenue and Cass Place that’s written out in pretty clear English. But many in the area can’t seem to agree on what qualifies as a school day. The corner is constantly backed up on days school is not in session due to drivers not knowing what qualifies as a school day. Summer was particularly precarious because nobody knew if summer school counts. What about snow days, Jewish holidays, and a plethora of other days? Doesn’t “school day” mean Monday through Friday or “Any Day School is in Session.” After some poking around on the DOT’s website, the only mention of school days I could find is a note that parking in a school zone is permissible when school is not in recess.
So which is it? Shouldn’t the sign just read Monday – Friday, September – June? It’s not as if there isn’t enough space, the No Parking signs in Manhattan Beach are seasonal. One must also call into question why school days even matter. The nearest school is three blocks away on Brighton 14th. Have you been caught in traffic behind this sign? What do you think?
Councilman Michael Nelson told members of Community Board 15 last week that he is seeking ramped up enforcement and insfrastructural improvements to curb illegal U-turns along Nostrand Avenue.
Nelson’s office says that they received a number of complaints from constituents about dangerous and illegal U-turns on Nostrand Avenue between Voorhies Avenue and Avenue X. Many involve cars – especially SUVs – that opt to drive directly over the median rather than go to the corner.
“They’re turning over the island, but they’re not falling into the river… unfortunately,” Nelson quipped in front of the board. The councilman’s office is on Nostrand Avenue between Avenue Y and Avenue Z.
Nelson and his staff are looking to press the 61st Precinct into stronger enforcement. They’re also considering options including cameras and reinforcement of the barriers with increased height and green landscaping.
