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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 17-83
September 15, 2017
DEP (718) 595-6600; DDC (718) 391-1583

$25 Million Far Rockaway Infrastructure Upgrade Complete

$25 Million Infrastructure Upgrade For Far Rockaway

Newly Installed Storm Sewers, Sanitary Sewers, Water Mains and Catch Basins Will Improve Roadway Drainage, Reduce Flooding and Help to Ensure a Reliable Water Supply

Photos and a Map of the Project Area are Available on DEP’s Flickr Page

The New York City Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Design and Construction (DDC) today announced that construction has recently been completed on a $25 million infrastructure upgrade project in Far Rockaway, Queens. Work included the installation of new storm sewers, sanitary sewers, water mains, and catch basins to help improve drainage, reduce localized street flooding and ensure a reliable supply of water for the future. Funding for the project was provided by DEP, and DDC managed the construction.

“The new sewers, water mains, and catch basins installed in Far Rockaway will help alleviate the flooding that oftentimes occurs during heavy rain events,” said DEP Acting Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “This $25 million project represents a significant investment in this community and will greatly improve the quality of life for its hard-working residents.”

“We are proud to bring improved, resilient infrastructure to the Far Rockaway community with our partners at DEP,” said DDC Acting Commissioner Ana Barrio. “These upgrades will mitigate instances of street flooding and will bring 55 new trees to the neighborhood, providing sustainable greenery for the future.”

“Far Rockaway has been plagued by flooding for as long as I can remember, and it has become even worse in recent years with catastrophic weather events like Hurricane Sandy. The sewer system needs to be upgraded and expanded to keep up with rainfall and storms. This latest DEP investment in the infrastructure of Far Rockaway with the installation of storm sewers, sanitary sewers, water mains, and catch basins is a welcome and much needed step to solving this very large and persistent problem,” said State Senator James Sanders, Jr.

“The upgrades to our infrastructure is a significant step forward to realizing increased economic opportunity and improved quality of life for our residents. This and other projects coming to fruition will create a Rockaway we will be proud of. I thank our Mayor for his unwavering commitment to Far Rockaway,” said Assembly Member Michele R. Titus.

“This is crucial work, and we're thrilled to have it done. The improvements come not a moment too soon; with the approval of the Downtown Far Rockaway rezoning, we can expect demand to go way up. Now, instead of putting more strain on an old system, we'll all transition to a new one. Our community deserves an excellent, reliable waste treatment system, and now they'll have one. We look forward to putting our water issues in the rearview mirror,” said Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato.

“The tragedy of Superstorm Sandy highlighted the severe infrastructure needs across the Rockaway peninsula and thankfully the de Blasio administration is committed to addressing these issues that impact residents on a daily basis,” said Council Member Donovan Richards. “With more than $200 million in investments coming into the Downtown Far Rockaway area through the neighborhood redevelopment plan, it’s going to be even more critical that our neighborhoods have a solid foundation with new storm sewers, sanitary sewers, water mains, and catch basins. I’d like to thank Mayor de Blasio, DEP Commissioner Sapienza and DDC Commissioner Barrio.”

As part of the project, 5,230 linear feet of storm sewers, along with an outfall at Chandler Street, and 7,978 linear feet of sanitary sewers were installed along portions of Pinson Street, Battery Road, Chandler Street, Nameoke Avenue, McBride Street, Dix Avenue, Mott Avenue, Grassmere Terrace, Hollywood Court, Regina Avenue and Gipson Street. While the roadway was open to install the sewers, 7,168 linear feet of new, stronger ductile iron water mains were also built to replace old cast iron pipes, improving water distribution in the area.

Construction also included 79 catch basins to drain stormwater from roadways and the addition of 24 fire hydrants to ensure that firefighters have ready access to the City’s water supply. Final restoration included the repaving of more than 18,500 square yards of roadway, as well as the planting of 55 trees that will bring shade and better air quality to the neighborhood.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water each day to more than 9 million residents, including 8.5 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 in the upstate watershed. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $20.7 billion in investments over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s lenses of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, new or upgraded roadways, sewers, water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $15 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative, and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to city projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.

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