By Bill Parry
The good news for motorists on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is the state has begun construction of the $550 million replacement for the Kosciuszko Bridge. The bad news is the project won’t be finished until 2020 so there will be more days like Tuesday when a joint malfunctioned, resulting in the closure of the middle lane.
Traffic was backed up from the span all the way to Bay Ridge in Brooklyn for most of the day.
“It’s a 75-year-old bridge and these things are going to happen from time to time,” state Department of Transportation Spokeswoman Diane Park said. “We’re back to business as usual and the stability of the bridge was never in danger.” The problems began when an expansion joint popped out of its position and rose six inches above the roadbed during the morning rush hour.
A contractor was summoned to make the repairs, but the middle lane was closed to traffic until nearly 4 p.m.
“The bottom line is the expansion joint just didn’t function properly,” Park said. “The joint allows for the concrete to expand in cold weather, but it’s part of the roadway. The roadway sits atop the steel deck so it’s not a part of the actual structure. The bridge is safe and the New York State Department of Transportation will continue to maintain it is a state of good repair until the new K-Bridge is completed.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
