The state Department of Transportation (DOT) will rehabilitate the Jewel Avenue Bridge and surrounding structures to provide a smoother ride for drivers.
Both the bridge decks and structure steel will be replaced and the bridge will be repaved, according to DOT Acting Commissioner Cathy Calhoun. The bridge’s sidewalks will also be reconstructed as well as as the entrance ramp from Jewel Avenue to the southbound Van Wyck Expressway and the exit ramp from the southbound Van Wyck Expressway to Jewel Avenue.
Streetlights and traffic lights will be upgraded to include LED lighting, and new drainage scuppers and fencing will be installed. Safety improvements will also be made to bike lanes.
“Governor Cuomo is working hard to provide a smart, modernized transportation infrastructure that will benefit New York City’s citizens and support the economy long into the future,” Calhoun said. “This project will provide a reliable bridge and smooth riding surface for the many motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who travel across it each day.”
In addition, additional signage and roadway striping will be installed along Meadow Lake Drive. The retaining walls along the Long Island Expressway including between 58th Street and Maurice Avenue; between Junction Boulevard and 97th Place; and at the exit ramp at 138th Street will be repaired.
“This project is an important step forward to ensure that the Jewel Avenue Bridge is safe for pedestrians and motorists to use for many years to come,” said Councilman Rory Lancman.
The project will be completed in spring 2019.
