The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway has a problem: its Sand Street to Atlantic Avenue stretch. Woefully in disrepair, the triple cantilever has become the nexus of driver and community debate. Many describe it as intrusive due to it limiting access to the waterfront and Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Community feedback has helped shape the city’s Department of Transportation’s three recently unveiled designs that aim to repair the roadway and more efficiently connect Brooklyn Heights Promenade to the waterfront park.
“The Terraces” and “The Lookout” designs would accomplish that goal with a partial replacement of the problematic cantilever. “The Stoop” design would involve a complete replacement.
DOT officials said that the community would be involved throughout the process, which involves many steps before anything is finalized. The three concepts will be subject to a federal environmental review process expected to take two years.
“We’re aggressively moving ahead with the environmental review process so we can get to actual construction and make a real difference in our area,” said Deputy Mayor of Operations Meera Joshi.
The DOT will go forward with a traffic study this month to evaluate whether the final design should feature two or three lanes. Projected timelines on construction of the chosen design are set to start in 2027.
