A portion of Penelope Avenue in Middle Village will be closed to through traffic for 10 days starting tomorrow, Jan. 9, as the city continues a major sewer and water main installation.
The city’s Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced on Jan. 7 that a block of Penelope Avenue between 74th and Pleasantview streets would be limited to emergency and local traffic through Friday, Jan. 18. Curbside parking and access to private driveways along the block will also be restricted.
Councilman Robert Holden published the DDC notice about the work to his Facebook page on Monday.
It’s the latest step in an ongoing, $22 million reconstruction of sewers and water mains in the heart of Middle Village, and in an area prone to flash flooding and sewer backups during heavy rain events. Planning for the project began back in 2007; work started in 2014, but was beset with delays due to questions about the removal of contaminated soil.
An interruption of the project caused other problems for Middle Villagers living in the work area, as residents reported damaged stoops, foundations and sidewalks in the area. Holden and City Comptroller Scott Stringer visited the area in August 2018 and vowed to get the project moving again while also mitigating the damage that residents suffered.
The DDC restarted the project last October, and the latest phase of construction will enable crews to continue replacing sewer mains and install a new sewer chamber close to the intersection of 74th Street and Penelope Avenue. This sewer chamber will help improve the flow of runoff and sewage while reducing backups.
Signs have been posted in the affected area advising residents of the impending street restrictions, according to the DDC. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the disruption; full access to driveways and street parking will be restored once the work is completed.
Residents who parked their cars in the area of Penelope Avenue and 74th Street are advised to remove their vehicles from their driveways and the streets before 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 9. Any vehicle left on the street past that time could be towed away; you’ll need to call the DDC field office or the 104th Precinct if your vehicle has been towed.
For more information, call 311 or contact the DDC field office at 718-326-3840.
The DDC noted that the work dates are weather permitting, and could change due to inclement weather.
