TRAFFIC NEWS and Updates

Street Cleaning Suspensions

Alternate-side parking regulations will be suspended today, Thursday, Sept. 1, in observance of the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan (Idul-Fitr). Meter regulations, however, will remain in effect each day.

Additionally, street cleaning and meter regulations will be suspended on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5. Drive safely, and enjoy all 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, Aug. 31. 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:

Street Resurfacing In Brooklyn, Qns.

Weather permitting, DOT crews will continue street resurfacing work at the following locations:

 21st Street between 27th Avenue and Broadway in Astoria for contracting work on Thursday, Sept. 1, and be- tween 27th Avenue and Hoyt Avenue South for contracting work on Friday, Sept. 2;

 97th Street between Ditmars and Astoria boulevards in East Elmhurst for milling on Thursday, Sept. 1, and Friday, Sept. 2;

 101st Street between 23rd and 24th avenues in East Elmhurst for milling on Friday, Sept. 2;

 124th Street between Rockaway Boulevard and Liberty Avenue in South Ozone Park and Richmond Hill for paving on Friday, Sept. 2;

 149th Avenue between Cross Bay Boulevard and North Conduit Avenue in Lindenwood for paving on Thursday, Sept. 1;

 Gilmore Street between 24th Avenue and Astoria Boulevard in East Elmhurst for milling on Thursday, Sept. 1;

 Metropolitan Avenue between Meeker Avenue and River Street in Williamsburg for nighttime paving on Thursday, Sept. 1, and Friday, Sept. 1;

 Paidge Avenue between Provost Street and McGuiness Boulevard in Greenpoint for nighttime paving on Thursday, Sept. 1; and

 Provost Street between Greenpoint and Paidge avenues in Greenpoint for nighttime paving on Thursday, Sept. 1;

Drivers are advised to be prepared for sporadic road closures at each location and to consider alternate routes.

Woodhaven Blvd. Overpass Delays

One lane in each direction of the Woodhaven Boulevard bridge over Atlantic Avenue may be closed on weekdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. as the DOT conducts bridge repainting.

Bridge Repairs On Union Tpke.

One lane of traffic along Union Turnpike between Park Lane and Austin Street will be open to traffic on weekdays from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. through October as the DOT conducts bridge repairs at the overpass above Austin Street.

Kew Gdns. Project Affects Van Wyck

One lane in each direction of the Van Wyck Expressway at the Kew Gardens interchange between Grand Central Parkway and 86th Avenue may be closed on weekdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., on weeknights from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m., on Saturdays from 12:01 until 6 a.m. and on Sundays from 12:01 until 10 a.m.

Two lanes in each direction may be closed on early weekday mornings from 1 to 5 a.m., on Saturday mornings from 1 to 5 a.m. (6 a.m. northbound) and Sunday mornings from 1 to 6 a.m. (7 a.m. northbound).

These lane closures are necessary in order to facilitate roadway reconstruction by the New York State Department of Transportation. The project is scheduled to continue through March 2012.

Bridge Work On Northern Blvd.

One eastbound lane of the Northern Boulevard bridge over Flushing river will be closed on Mondays through Thursdays from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. and from 11 p.m. on Fridays until 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Two lanes will be closed during early morning hours on Monday through Thursday from 12:01 until 5 a.m. and on Saturday mornings from 1 to 6:30 a.m.

One westbound lane on the bridge will be closed on Mondays through Thursdays from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. and from 10 p.m. Fridays until 7 a.m. Saturdays. Two lanes will be closed on Mondays through Thursdays from 12:01 until 5 a.m. and on Saturdays from 1 to 6:30 a.m.

Lane Closures On

Grand Central Pkwy.

One lane of the Grand Central Parkway will be closed in either direction under the 37th Street overpass on Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. Closures will also occur on weekends from 11 p.m. Fridays until 6 a.m. Saturdays and on Sundays from 12:01 to 11 a.m.

Additionally, 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.

RFK Br. Off-Ramp Will Close For Work

One of three lanes on the Robert F. Kennedy (Triborough) Bridge’s Queens to Manhattan ramp will be closed round-the-clock until late fall while old concrete is drilled and removed, repairs made to steel rebar and a new roadway deck installed.

The work, which is being done by Navillus Contractors of Manhattan, requires a seven-day-a-week, fulltime closure of a portion of the left hand lane on the ramp, which leads from the Queens viaduct into the Manhattan toll plaza.

The impact to traffic is expected to be minimal since two lanes will remain open, and the third lane will be reopened on the ramp after the work zone, which involves about 1,200 feet of roadway. Signs will be in place to alert motorists to the closure.

In addition to the concrete work, contractors will be cleaning and replacing existing steel rebar as needed and repairing roadway joints.

Over the length of the $2.5 million contract as many as two dozen full, part-time and specialty jobs are expected to be created.

Rehabilitation work was completed on the right lane of the Queens to Manhattan ramp in 2008. The remaining middle lane is slated for rehabilitation work in 2012.

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