TRAFFIC NEWS and Updates

Holiday Changes

In observance of Independence Day, street cleaning rules and meter regulations will be suspended on Sunday, July 4, and Monday, July 5. Drive safely, buckle up and enjoy the festivities responsibly.

Road Work

Because of ongoing construction work at several locations throughout Queens and Brooklyn, the New York City Department of Transportation has announced numerous street closures in local neighborhoods for the upcoming week.

The announced diversions are current as of Wednesday, June 30. The DOT may shut down other roads should the need for emergency repairs arise.

Streets and highways that are affected by closures during this week include the following:

Resurfacing Portion

Of Forest Hills Sts.

Weather permitting, DOT crews are scheduled to conduct street resurfacing at the following locations in Forest Hills:

• 71st Avenue between Burns Street and Queens Boulevad (paving) on Thursday, July 1;

• 72nd Road between Queens Boulevard and the Grand Central Parkway (milling) on Thursday, July 1;

• 110th Street between 69th Road and Queens Boulevard (milling) on Friday, July 2; and,

• Union Turnpike between Metropolitan Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard (paving) on Thursday, July 1, and Friday, July 2.

Lane Replacement

On Whitestone Br.

One of the six bridge lanes of the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge will be closed to traffic through 2011 as MTA Bridges and Tunnels continues a $200 million replacement of the roadway and improvements to its structural foundations.

A movable barrier will be used to maintain three lanes of traffic heading from Queens during morning rush hours and to Queens during the afternoon rush hour periods. Two lanes will be maintained in the opposite direction during these times.

Lane Closures On

Grand Central Pkwy.

One lane in each direction of the Grand Central Parkway will be closed between 82nd and 111th streets on weekdays from 12:01 a.m. until 5 a.m., on Saturdays from 1 to 6 a.m. and on Sundays from 1 to 9 a.m. as the DOT conducts maintenance work.

Work Continues On Long Island Expwy.

One to two lanes of the eastbound Long Island Expressway will be closed between Exits 17 and 19 during weekdays, Monday through Friday, from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m., Saturdays from 12:01 until 8 a.m. and Sundays from 1 to 10 a.m.

Furthermore, one to two westbound lanes of the expressway in this section will be closed on weeknights from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.; Saturdays from 12:01 until 5 a.m. and Sundays from 12:01 until 10 a.m.

It was noted that a full closure of one direction for 15 minutes per hour may occur as needed between 2 and 5 a.m. weeknights and on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 6 a.m.

These lane closures are needed due to ongoing bridge repainting that will occur through March 2011.

BQE Br. Painting

Leads To Closures

One of the three lanes of the eastbound Brooklyn-Queens Expressway on the 31st Avenue overpass will be closed on weekdays, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and overnights from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. as the DOT conducts repainting.

Repairs Shut Down

Borden Ave. Br. The Borden Avenue Bridge over the Dutch Kills in Long Island City remains closed through the late autumn of 2010 for emergency repair work.

Passenger vehicles and trucks under 12’10” in height traveling westbound on Borden Avenue must turn onto 30th Place and travel one block north to Hunters Point Avenue. The detour route then travels west on Hunters Point Avenue for 0.3 miles before turning left onto 27th Street.

Vehicles following the route then travel three blocks southward on 27th Street before rejoining Borden Avenue.

All trucks over 12’10” in height traveling westbound on Borden Avenue will follow the same detour route up to 27th Street. On 27th Street, these rigs will then travel for two blocks before turning west onto 51st Avenue and south onto 25th Street before rejoining Borden Avenue.

Commercial and passenger traffic traveling eastbound on Borden Avenue will turn north onto 25th Street and east on 51st Avenue to 27th Street. After traveling north on 27th Street, the diverted traffic will then turn east on Hunters Point Avenue for 0.2 miles before turning south onto 30th Street and back to Borden Avenue.

For additional closures, visit the city DOT’s website at www.nyc.gov/dot or call 311.