TRAFFIC NEWS and Updates

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, Mar. 3. 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:

Painting Leads To

L.I.E. Lane Closures

One to two lanes of the eastbound Long Island Expressway will be closed between Exits 17 and 19 during weekdays, Monday through Friday, from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m., Saturdays from 12:01 until 8 a.m. and Sundays from 1 to 10 a.m.

Additionally, one to two westbound lanes of the expressway in this section will be closed on weeknights from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.; Saturdays from 12:01 until 5 a.m. and Sundays from 12:01 until 10 a.m.

It was noted that a full closure of one direction for 15 minutes per hour may occur as needed between 2 and 5 a.m. weeknights and on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 6 a.m.

These lane closures are needed due to ongoing bridge repainting that will occur through March 2011.

Lanes Shut On

Rockaway Brs.

All northbound lanes of the Cross Bay Bridge will be closed for intermittent periods on Thursday, Mar. 4, and Friday, Mar. 5, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. to allow for the installation o overhead sign structures. The closures will last approximately 20 minutes each. Motorists are advised to seek an alternate route during these periods.

Additionally, 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 longterm construction.

Bridge Work Ties

Up Belt Parkway

The ongoing reconstruction of several bridges along the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn will result in a num- ber of lane closures over the next several months, it was announced.

One to two lanes of the Belt Parkway’s westbound approach to the Mill Basin drawbridge will be closed during weeknights, Sunday through Friday, from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. through March. Lanes will also be closed on the Belt Parkway between the Mill Basin drawbridge and Erskine Street on weekdays, Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. until 5 a.m.

Additionally, one to two lanes of the Belt Parkway over the Fresh Creek Basin and Paerdegat Basin bridges between Flatbush and Pennsylvania avenues will be closed in both directions on weekdays and weeknights from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and from 1 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Repairs Shut Down

Borden Ave. Br.

The Borden Avenue Bridge over the Dutch Kills in Long Island City remains closed through April 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 March 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 March.

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