With two horrific car accidents in 10 days, the Queensboro Bridge might need more than just a name change.
Elected officials and community leaders demanded that the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) investigate the layout and design of the street grid around the Queens Plaza exit of the bridge in Long Island City at a rally on Friday, April 8.
City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer was joined by State Senator Michael Gianaris and Assemblymember Cathy Nolan, along with local businesses and residents. In addition to the rally, the elected officials sent a letter to the DOT demanding an “immediate and comprehensive review of all Queensboro Bridge off-ramps,” and requested that the DOT install enhanced traffic and safety devices along Queens Plaza.
“The tragic accidents that happened in Queensboro Plaza just days apart highlight a major need for the implementation of traffic calming measures in the area,” said Van Bramer. “Pedestrian, vehicle and bicycle safety is critical for Queensboro Plaza and the Department of Transportation must implement additional safety measures to prevent and deter accidents like this from happening again.”
Queensboro Bridge has seen its fare share of news lately, as Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently signed a bill renaming the bridge after ex-Mayor Ed Koch. The renaming came with some opposition, as several city lawmakers spoke out against it and a Quinnipiac University poll found that 70 percent of Queens residents wanted the bridge to keep its original name.
However, the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge – as it was newly christened – now draws the ire from lawmakers seeking to make the area safer for drivers and pedestrians alike.
In both accidents at the bridge’s exit ramp, vehicles failed to negotiate the sharp turn at the end of the L.I.C. side of the Queensboro Bridge as they exited, causing them to jump the curb and crash into a storefront. Both accidents resulted in serious injuries and even death – not to mention considerable damage to local businesses.
Gianaris said that pedestrians should not be put into danger on a daily basis as they maneuver through the busy plaza.
“The situation is intolerable and inexcusable,” said Gianaris. “Queens motorists, residents and small business owners should not have to endure errant, projectile vehicles being launched at them on a weekly basis due to the dangerous design of an off-ramp. It is vital that we remedy this area to ensure the safety of all individuals traveling through or enjoying the streets of western Queens.”
