Traffic is expected to worsen on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and FDR Drive over the next two weekends, as the New York City Department of Transportation has announced lane reductions for necessary maintenance work.
Starting from 1 a.m. on Saturdays to 5 a.m. on Mondays during the weekends of Sept. 14-16 and Sept. 21-23, a section of the BQE from Adams Street to Washington Street will be reduced to just one lane of traffic. Additionally, on the weekend of Sept. 21-23, the Sands Street entrance ramp to the Staten Island-bound roadway will be closed.
For those who use the FDR Drive, there will be closures of the northbound center and left lanes near 40th Street this weekend due to maintenance work by the DOT. The northbound entrance ramps at Montgomery Street, Houston Street, East 23rd Street, and East 35th Street will also be closed from 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, to 5 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15.
Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez explained that the city is implementing motion weight equipment along the BQE to deter overweight trucks from causing further damage to the infrastructure. These sensors will be synchronized with license plate cameras, and any vehicles exceeding weight limits will be fined.
Rodriguez emphasized the success of weigh-in-motion technology in reducing the number of overweight vehicles along the BQE by 64% in areas where it has been implemented. He urged drivers to consider using public transportation or finding alternate routes to avoid the limited lane closures and help in keeping overweight trucks off the BQE.
It is essential for drivers to plan their travel routes in advance and be prepared for potential delays during these weekends. The maintenance work being carried out is crucial for the safety and longevity of the roadways, and the cooperation of all commuters is greatly appreciated during this period.