The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) is built atop of crumbling series of bridges. The city is expected to go in high gear on construction on Brooklyn's only interstate highway by the beginning of the next decade.
Dana Rubinstein reports on the ongoing need to repair a 1.25-mile stretch of the BQE in Brooklyn—at a cost of $1.7 billion. According to Rubinstein, the city has many bridges that are deteriorating and in need of repair of replacing, but this particular project could be particularly inconvenient:
New York City controls 789 bridges. Twenty-one, including three that comprise the base of the promenade, make up a 1.25-mile stretch of the BQE that the city admits is deteriorating. Within the next decade or so, the degradation will necessitate repairs, rendering that heavily trafficked portion of Brooklyn’s only interstate highway a construction-laden mess and sending tens of thousands of cars and trucks into the surrounding neighborhoods.
The city is expecting to begin construction on the BQE between 2020 and 2023; meanwhile an expected 12-year window of good repair is closing quickly. A spokesperson for the department of transportation has said this project is the city's number one priority—so much so that the department is "circumventing the normal chain of command."
"While a bureau inside the bridges department runs all other big-ticket bridge jobs, this project’s managers report directly to Robert Collyer, the department's deputy commissioner for bridges," according to Rubinstein.
Rubinstein also connects the problems with the bridges on the BQE with other large infrastructure projects like the ongoing project to repair the tunnels for the L Train under the East River, the delayed project to build a new cross-Hudson tunnel, and the renovation of LaGuardia Airport.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.