TRAFFIC NEWS and Updates

Marathon Runners In Long Island City

A number of streets in Long Island City along the route of the ING New York City Marathon will be closed to traffic this Sunday, Nov. 1, to allow participants to continue their 26.2 mile journey safely.

All vehicular traffic will be prohibited from the affected streets beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday morning. It is anticipated that the roads will be reopened later that afternoon between 2:50 and 3:05 p.m. The runners will make their way from Brooklyn over the Pulaski Bridge through Long Island City to the Queensboro Bridge, where they will continue on to Manhattan.

It was noted that the lower level of the Queensboro Bridge is expected to be closed from 7 a.m. until about 3:30 p.m. Sunday morning.

The marathon begins in Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano Bridge at around 8:20 a.m. for those participating in the wheelchair race. The race for professional female runners will start at 9:10 a.m., while the marathon for professional male runners will step off at 9:40 a.m.

Thousands of runners averaged at running a mile in 15 minutes will start their marathon at 10:26 a.m.

As all runners leave the Pulaski Bridge, they will travel onto the following Long Island City streets:

• 11th Street between Jackson and 48th avenues;

• 48th Avenue between 11th Street and Vernon Boulevard;

• Vernon Boulevard between 48th Avenue and 10th Street;

• 10th Street between Vernon Boulevard and 44th Drive;

• 44th Drive between 10th Street and Hunter Street;

• Hunter Street between 44th Drive and Crescent Street; and,

• Crescent Street between Hunter Street and Queens Plaza.

From there, the runners will then turn west onto the eastbound lanes of Queens Plaza South, then onto the lower roadway of the Queensboro Bridge.

Drivers traveling through the Long Island City area are advised to find alternate routes and to be prepared for delays while the marathon is in progress. Parking will also be restricted on these routes as of midnight on Sunday; all cars found parked on these streets after that time will be towed away.

Street Cleaning Suspensions

Alternate-side-of-the-street parking regulations will be suspended citywide on Sunday, Nov. 1 (All Saints Day), and Tuesday, Nov. 3 (Election Day). Meter regulations, however, will remain in effect on both occasions.

Road Work

Because of ongoing construction work at several locations throughout Queens and Brooklyn, the New York City Department of Transportation has announced numerous street closures in local neighborhoods for the upcoming week.

The announced diversions are current as of Wednesday, Oct. 28. The DOT may shut down other roads should the need for emergency repairs arise.

Streets and highways that are affected by closures during this week include the following:

Repairs Shut Down Borden Ave. Br.

The Borden Avenue Bridge over the Dutch Kills in Long Island City remains closed through April 2010 for emergency repair work.

Passenger vehicles and trucks under 12’10” in height traveling westbound on Borden Avenue must turn onto 30th Place and travel one block north to Hunters Point Avenue. The detour route then travels west on Hunters Point Avenue for 0.3 miles before turning left onto 27th Street.

Vehicles following the route then travel three blocks southward on 27th Street before rejoining Borden Avenue.

All trucks over 12’10” in height traveling westbound on Borden Avenue will follow the same detour route up to 27th Street. On 27th Street, these rigs will then travel for two blocks before turning west onto 51st Avenue and south onto 25th Street before rejoining Borden Avenue.

Commercial and passenger traffic traveling eastbound on Borden Avenue will turn north onto 25th Street and east on 51st Avenue to 27th Street. After traveling north on 27th Street, the diverted traffic will then turn east on Hunters Point Avenue for 0.2 miles before turning south onto 30th Street and back to Borden Avenue.

Parts Of Roosevelt Ave. Shut For Work

The eastbound lanes of Roosevelt Avenue will be closed between 126th Street and College Point Boulevard on a nightly basis from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. through October to facilitate crane operation.

Additionally, one lane in each direction will be closed between 114th and 126th streets during non-rush hour periods as MTA New York City Transit repaints the elevated 7 train structure above Roosevelt Avenue. The project is expected to continue through December.

Bridge Repainting On Grand Central

One lane of the westbound Grand Central Parkway may be closed between 44th and 47th streets in Astoria during weekdays from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. through the end of October as the DOT conducts bridge repainting.

Additionally, up to two lanes of the westbound lanes of the parkway may be closed between 48th and 31st streets during overnights on weekdays, Monday through Thursday, from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. for repainting operations.

Lanes Shut On Rockaway Brs.

One lane in each direction of the Marine Parkway/Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge may be closed on weekdays, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. to facilitate MTA construction activity. Additionally, one lane may be closed as needed along the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge northbound from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily; and southbound from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. One lane in each direction may be closed on the crossing during weekends as the MTA conducts long-term construction.

Road Work Ties Up BQE In Brooklyn

The DOT has reported scheduled lane closures along sections of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in Brooklyn. The expressway will also have one of three lanes in each direction shut down between Sands Street and Flushing Avenue on Tuesdays through Fridays from 12:01 a.m. to 1 a.m. Two of the three lanes, either east or westbound, are scheduled to be closed in the same section Tuesdays through Fridays between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

For additional closures, visit the city DOT’s website at www.nyc.gov/dot or call 311.