Bergen Beach drivers should brace themselves for years of traffic delays in the neighborhood, after the city kicked off a multi-million-dollar project to shore up local roads that will take no less than four years to complete, according to a civic guru.
“Residents should expect to be burdened by the construction,” said Salvatore Calise, president of the Bergen Beach Civic Association. “It will affect traffic flow and will be a visible presence around the area.”
The $52-million scheme that kicked off on Feb. 25 is slated to wrap by 2023, and will spruce up decrepit roads throughout the coastal neighborhood in two phases. Phase one will include repairs to:
• Avenue K between E. 72nd Street and Bergen Avenue.
• Bergen Avenue between avenues K and L, and Avenues T and V.
• Veterans Avenue between E. 65th Street and Avenue U.
• E. 66th Street between Avenue M and Veterans Avenue.
• E. 67th Street between Avenue T and Veterans Avenue.
• Avenue T between Veterans Avenue and E. 72th Street.
• Avenue U between E. 71st and E. 68th streets.
• Royce Street between Avenues U and T.
• E. 74th Street between Avenues U and X.
• Avenue V between E. 69th and E. 74th streets.
• Avenue W between E. 71st Street and Bergen Avenue.
• E. 72nd Street between Avenues W and X.
And phase two will include repairs to:
• Avenue T between E. 74th Street and Bergen Avenue.
• Avenue X between E. 71st Street and Bergen Avenue.
• Bergen Avenue between E. 74th Street and Royce Street.
• Avenue Y between E. 74th Street and E. 69th Street.
• Royce Street, E. 74th Street, E. 73rd Street, E. 72nd Street, E. 71st Street, E. 70th Street, and E. 69th Street between Avenues X and Y.
Workers will repair the roads, along with sidewalks, and install other new infrastructure to combat flooding on those stretches, many of which private developers built decades ago, according to a spokesman for the Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the project.
“Many of the streets in the project area, originally built by private developers, were not adequately built or have settled unevenly,” the rep said. “This project will include restoration of roadways, sidewalks, and curbs, along with the installation of storm sewers, catch basins, and water mains.”
The new sewers and catch basins will go a long way toward combatting ponding other issues that often plague local streets after heavy rains, said the spokesman, who added the fixes will also improve pedestrian safety in the neighborhood.
“Area residents can expect better street conditions, improved drainage, less ponding, and beautification, along with added pedestrian safety measures, such as shortening the crossing distances for the pedestrians,” he said.
And although the years-long project will likely wreak havoc on the local streets, the repairs are much needed, and will ultimately improve traffic flow for Bergen Beachers, according to Calise.
“This project will be a welcomed upgrade for Bergen Beach,” he said.
