Project Aims To Prevent Future Flood Woes
Long sought by flood-weary Middle Village residents, a major upgrade to underground sewer lines through the neighborhood is one step closer to starting.
The Department of Design and Construction (DDC) informed Community Board 5 last week it selected C.A.C. Industries of Long Island City as the contractor for the more than $22 million project to replace sewer and water mains below Penelope Avenue and connecting streets.
According to Board 5, the project’s start date is “at least six weeks away,” pending finalization of the contract from the City Comptroller’s office and preliminary preparations.
In the works for the past seven years, the project aims to alleviate flooding problems experienced in low-lying areas of Middle Village during and immediately after heavy rainstorms. Most notably, downpours in August 2007 and August 2012 overwhelmed sewer lines and caused backups that flooded out streets and nearby driveways, garages and basements.
Originally slated to begin in late 2015, the DDC and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reportedly expedited the project in fall 2012 at the request of City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley.
According to information provided by Board 5, the project will involve replacing existing sewer pipes, ranging from 15 to 63 inches in diameter depending on location, with larger combined box sewers and/or sewer pipes between 24 and 54 inches in diameter.
Crews will also install new water mains measuring between 8 to 12 inches in diameter and, where needed, new fire hydrants.
The work will take place on the following roadways:
– 74th Street between Juniper Boulevard South and Juniper Valley Road;
– 75th and Gray streets between Juniper Valley Road and 66th Drive;
– 77th Street between Gray Street and Juniper Valley Road (including a small portion of 66th Road between 77th and Gray streets, near the Middle Village Veterans Triangle);
– Juniper Valley Road between 74th and 77th streets; and
– Penelope Avenue between 71st and 74th streets.
Though a start date has yet to be finalized, a spokesperson for Crowley’s office indicated the project is projected for completion in the fall of 2016.
