The city is promising to end decades-old bottlenecks on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge by redesigning the lane configuration, moves it says will speed drivers’ commutes over the iconic span.
A second lane will be added to both the on-ramp and off-ramp from the bridge onto the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Drive in Manhattan, where for years selfish drivers have jockeyed for position, sometimes backing up traffic across the span for those heading out of Brooklyn, and to the Manhattan Bridge and beyond for those heading to Brooklyn.
“What a difference a lane makes,” said transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “We are making improvements at longtime bottlenecks to make the trip between the two boroughs faster, smoother and more convenient than ever for thousands of New Yorkers.”
The expansion is part of an ongoing $508-million project to update the Brooklyn Bridge, which began in 2010 and should be completed by 2014.
By that time, the city says it will also add a lane on the Brooklyn side of the bridge at the exit for the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, where the same type of bottleneck still exists as drivers head toward Cadman Plaza West and Old Fulton Street in Brooklyn Heights.
“This will add a second access lane at this major connection on the most common route from the Brooklyn Bridge to the BQE,” said Nicholas Mosquera, a spokesman for the department.
The city says 120,000 cars cross the still toll-free every day.
Reach reporter Jaime Lutz at jlutz@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-8310. Follow her on Twitter @jaime_lutz.
