Wednesday, December 25, 2013

DOT to close dangerous bridge ramp at night


From the NY Times:

Cars have slammed into a beauty salon and shattered the windows of a Caribbean restaurant over the years, each after failing to navigate a turn at the base of the Queensboro Bridge where it unspools into Long Island City, Queens.

Now, not just the ramp — with a dangerous curve that city officials say has claimed three lives in recent years — but the entire outermost Queens-bound lane of the bridge will be shut down at night, when the emptied-out bridge may tempt drivers to speed.

The southernmost lane of the bridge, formally the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, has a breathtaking view for those traveling on that side of the bridge; the New York City skyline is visible from the passenger side window. It will be closed beginning on Monday from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, according to a statement released Tuesday jointly by the Department of Transportation and the New York City Police Department.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Keep it closed during the day too. The ped/bikeway on the other side is uncomfortably crowded. Add this lane on the other side and that problem is solved.

Anonymous said...

Great, can pedestrians use this outer lane during night time hours?

Gary the Agnostic said...

Too little, too late.

Anonymous said...

Well thats the end of that. In a few weeks it will be turned into a bike lane

Anonymous said...

If this doesn't work, Penny, its jug handles in North Dekota.

And take your friend George with you. Understand they need lots of hotels up in those parts.

Anonymous said...

Typical D.O.T. Don't fix it close it...

georgetheatheist said...

Just went over the ramp last night. There are DOT illuminated signs in Manhattan at 59th Street and First Avenue and at the turn up onto the ramp. Interesting to see if there now will be accidents on THAT side of the bridge when motorists try to figure out there what's-now-up. The "fun" starts on Monday, 12/20, at 9PM.

georgetheatheist said...

Er, make that 12/30

Anonymous said...

... With a pedestrian plaza