Forum Photo by Michael V. Cusenza
DOT Deputy Queens Borough Commissioner Jason Banrey discusses the new Lindenwood roundabout project on Tuesday at the Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic meeting.
By Michael V. Cusenza
The Lindenwood roundabout and Spring Creek Resiliency projects topped the agenda Tuesday evening at the Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic meeting inside St. Helen Catholic Academy.
Last month, the civic board touted the City’s new proposal to turn the infamous Lindenwood traffic triangle at the intersection of 153rd Avenue and 88th Street into a safer “mini-roundabout.”
According to the Department of Transportation, the mini roundabout features: new crossings with painted refuge islands and curb extensions; additional pedestrian space; flush medians; and striped parking lanes.
And the benefits of the plan include: new shorter crossings clarify pedestrian paths and expand the pedestrian network; calms traffic on all approaches to intersection; reduces speeding by narrowing travel lanes with painted parking lanes and flush medians; large, painted pedestrian area provides a new public space to the community.
“I know this plan did take some time, but I think we got the right one,” Deputy DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Jason Banrey said. “This will add more clarity for folks.”
The civic has been working on transformative project for at least the last six years.
“The main reason for doing this was a safety issue,” civic Vice President Barbara McNamara said. “I believe it will help us in the long run.”
Banrey noted on Tuesday that the agency hopes to complete the roundabout in July or August, but pledged to have it done before the start of the 2018-2019 school year. He also warned residents that construction of “a project of this magnitude” is expected to have a slight impact on the neighborhood.
“I imagine that it will be a bit of a headache as it’s being installed,” he said, adding that driving and parking near the intersection will be slightly affected during production.
The Spring Creek Resiliency Project, in part, features a Federal Emergency Management Agency-funded berm to help control area flooding and erosion. On Tuesday, officials from the State Department of Environmental Conservation and National Park Service revealed that the agencies are in the process of securing a donation of 77,000 cubic yards of clean material from the old TWA terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport to help fortify the berm. The material would eventually be delivered mostly by truck and some by barge.
Construction of the berm is still in its infancy. Phase I of design is due by the end of this year.
