Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder this week announced that the city DOT has begun work to repair and extend the fences along North and South Conduit avenues near MS 202.
Photo courtesy of Assemblyman Goldfeder’s office
The Department of Transportation has begun work to repair gaps in the fences along North and South Conduit Avenues near Middle School 202 in Ozone Park, after Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Ozone Park) wrote a letter calling on the agency to do something about the problem. Students were using the fence holes as shortcuts to cross dangerous highways, and in his letter, Goldfeder stressed that the situation was an accident waiting to happen.
“No parent should have to send their child off to school in the morning worried whether they will make it to school safely,” said Assemblyman Goldfeder. “Hopefully these repairs will give parents and teachers the peace of mind they deserve.”
Gaps in the fences under the pedestrian bridge at Arion Street and North Conduit in Ozone Park; and at the median at 149th Avenue and South Conduit in Lindenwood permitted students to cross the heavy traffic on the Conduit instead of using the pedestrian bridge. In response to the Assemblyman’s letter, DOT agreed to make the necessary repairs and to install new fencing along the highway medians — and has begun to do so. The agency anticipates that the work will be completed in the next two weeks, weather permitting.
“The school and all the parents are excited and relieved that they no longer have to worry every day about students getting injured,” said Gaytyre Persaud, M.S. 202 PTA President. “We deeply appreciate Assemblyman Goldfeder fixing this problem that has been putting our students in danger for such a long time.”
“I commend Queens DOT and Borough Commissioner Hall for recognizing this dangerous situation and quickly acting to make the required repairs,” said Goldfeder. “These repairs will go a long way in keeping students out of harm’s way.”
By Eugénie Bisulco
