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Investing in Southeast Queens Streets
March 2018
“I don’t have to walk through water any more or go around my block to get home. Do you know what a relief that is?” ---- Sharon Chatman
Residents and businesses in Southeast Queens are seeing the benefits of the City’s $1.9 billion investment in their streets and infrastructure.
Ms. Sharon Chatman, 52, was reflecting on 17 years of living on 196th Street in St. Albans, and how a recent City project, on track to complete construction three months ahead of schedule, is affecting her and her neighbors.
“The sewers work much better than they did previously. There is no more flooding or hazardous conditions when trying to move around the neighborhood. The sidewalk has been replaced and looks great,” said Ms. Chatman. “My neighbor two doors down used to get flooding in his basement when it rained, the water would just run up on his property from the street. Now that’s gone, it doesn’t flood at all, and even the old potholes are gone.
“Best of all, I don’t have to walk around the street any more to get to my home when it rains. Before, the water would be over both sidewalks. I’d have to walk through it or go around the block to get home from the bus. Now it doesn’t flood.”
A $1.9 Billion Plan For Southeast Queens
The $21.8 million St. Albans project brought expanded storm sewers, new sanitary sewers and new water mains to Lucas Street and adjacent areas. More than three-quarters of a mile (4,100 feet) of new storm sewers, some as large as nine feet wide and five-and-a-half feet tall, were installed side-by-side with older storm sewers, functioning in tandem to greatly expand drainage capacity. Twenty-one new catch basins were installed, targeted to flood-prone locations, and 38 existing catch basins were replaced with new ones.
Streets were also regraded to prevent ponding, and curbs and sidewalks were repaired where necessary to help direct stormwater to the expanded system of sewers and catch basins. With 98% of the work done, crews are waiting for warmer weather to permanently restore the roadway.
The project is being completed by the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and is part of the City’s $1.9 billion overall plan to comprehensively address street conditions in Southeast Queens, a flat and low-lying area that for years has been plagued by flooding and pothole issues. The plan consists of 55 total infrastructure projects to be completed over 20 years, creating four large new sewer “spines” that will connect to other sewer and street enhancement projects branching off throughout the community.
“The City and the de Blasio administration have made a huge commitment to address flooding and local street issues for the residents and businesses of Southeast Queens,” said DDC Acting Commissioner Ana Barrio. “DDC is currently working with its partners at DEP and DOT to coordinate almost $2 billion of work to be completed over the next 15 years. This program is the largest of its kind in the City and will being significant improvements to local communities.”
At least one local business has seen an increase in customers following the St. Albans project. David, who owns La Melliza Minimarket on Lucas Street and 120th Road, said that with better street conditions his business sees more traffic.
“Before when it rained people didn’t want to cross the street to get here because of puddles all around,” said David. “Now that’s not a problem. It’s much better than before, much better.”
To manage the needs of residents and businesses during construction, the Department of Design and Construction assigns a full-time Community Construction Liaison (CCL) to most infrastructure projects. CCL Denise Harris keeps Ms. Chatman’s neighborhood apprised of construction progress, coordinates street closures, and arranges special requests, such as a resident who needed to be picked up in front of her home by ambulette several times a week to be taken for dialysis. Denise Harris works on-site and is directly accessible to the public at 917-510-6711 or by email at lucasstreetccl@gmail.com.
“The infrastructure was old and needed to be replaced. We will benefit from no more flooded basements and roadside puddles. The Community Liaison Denise Harris is to be commended for a job well done. She kept me informed about the progress of the project,” said another resident, Ms. Laurel Lennon Harney.
Work is being performed by a joint venture of Inter Contracting of Eastchester, NY and LaPeruta Construction Corporation of Staten Island.
