Congresswoman Grace Meng on Monday, May 8, announced that the federal infrastructure bill has provided Queens with millions of dollars to help pay for crucial highway improvements throughout the borough.
Known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the historic legislation was signed by President Biden in November 2021 after Meng helped pass the measure in Congress. It allocated $1.2 trillion for infrastructure projects across the country, including billions for New York’s roads, bridges, highways, mass transit, airports and more.
“The federal infrastructure bill was a sweeping and historic measure that provided essential funding to fix our aging roads and transportation systems, and I’m thrilled that it is delivering results for Queens,” Meng said. “This money provided to our borough will help enhance our local highways and make them safer for all who travel on them. I look forward to Queens reaping even more benefits from the infrastructure law to further improve our communities.”
The highway projects in Queens include:
- More than $6.5 million for safety improvements on the Long Island Expressway (LIE) from 48th Street to Little Neck Parkway: The project will improve safety by increasing the length of the entrance and exit ramps along this 11.80 mile stretch of the LIE.
- Over $40 million for mobility improvements on the eastbound Long Island Expressway between the Clearview Expressway and Springfield Boulevard and replacement of the Oceania Street Bridge: The eastbound Long Island Expressway between the entrance ramps from the Clearview Expressway and the exit ramp to Springfield Boulevard experience heavy congestion during peak periods, according to Meng’s office. This congestion is exacerbated by the high volume of truck traffic, both on the entrance ramps from the Clearview Expressway and on the eastbound Long Island Expressway mainline. The existing acceleration and deceleration lanes at the Clearview Expressway, Oceania Street, Bell Boulevard and Springfield Boulevard do not provide sufficient distance to accommodate the vehicles which enter and exit the Long Island Expressway. The project will construct an auxiliary lane to connect the entrance ramp from the Clearview with the exit ramp to Springfield Boulevard. The provision of a continuous lane for entering and exiting traffic will alleviate congestion and reduce delays.
- Nearly $900,000 for safety Improvements on the Grand Central Parkway Between Francis Lewis Boulevard and 188th Street: The project reconfigured exit and entrance ramps along the Grand Central Parkway to improve safety and reduce congestion. It connected entrance and exit ramps eastbound between Francis Lewis Boulevard and 188th Street, and between the Clearview Expressway and 188th Street in the westbound direction, creating auxiliary lanes in each direction to give drivers additional space to enter or exit the parkway.
- Approximately $33.9 million for the Van Wyck Expressway Viaduct Rehabilitation: This project will be a first phase of Van Wyck Expressway–Long Island Expwy Interchange structural rehabilitation. The project will replace concrete deck, perform corrective repairs of bridge steel and concrete elements on the College Point Boulevard ramp and concrete deck replacement and concrete piers repairs on selected spans of the Van Wyck Expressway viaduct over the Long Island Expressway. This project will also reseal and repair/replace deteriorated joints.
- More than $1 million for the Kew Gardens Interchange Infrastructure and Operational Improvement: This project replaced highway viaducts and ramp structures, realigned ramps and added highway shoulders and installed a multi-use path for pedestrian and bicycle usage along the Kew Gardens Interchange, an intersection of the Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway, Jackie Robinson Parkway and Union Turnpike.
