Local elected officials and community leaders gathered earlier in December to tour the pedestrian bridge that connects two separate sections of 55th Avenue, one of which turns onto 85th Street and the other that becomes a dead end near Haspel Street.
The group toured the overpass with Long Island Rail Road and Sanitation officials to discuss the conditions and demand immediate improvements be made at the site.
According to Christian Cassagnol, district manager of Community Board 4, the problems most residents have voiced concerns about include graffiti, lack of sufficient lighting, safety overnight and dirty conditions.
Residents and members of CB 4’s environmental committee regularly gather to clean up the site, Cassagnol said, but there is only so much that could be done on a local level. He decided to contact Councilman Daniel Dromm’s office in the hopes of finding a better solution.
Rosemarie Daraio, president of the nonprofit Communities of Maspeth & Elmhurst Together Inc. (COMET) Civic Association, added that some other issues include illegal dumping, weeds overtaking the site, and deteriorating and uneven steps.
Days before the Dec. 15 walk-through, the city’s Department of Sanitation showed up and did a cleanup.
“This site must be cleaned and made safe for pedestrians,” said Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, who was part of the group that toured the overpass. “There is no substitute for an on-site visit to see conditions firsthand.”
According to Stavisky, she and Dromm will continue to monitor the issue.
3 comments:
A couple years ago a 60 year old man was found dead there and it appeared he may have tripped because of the uneven steps.
There have been women sexually assaulted in the past. Most recently last week a Middle Village man was caught by neighbors after he attacked a woman.
It's always been a hang out spot for the local kids and that accounts for the graffiti and beer bottles.
In the 50's we walked over the bridge to and from PS102.
Moby- Thar she blows!
Who can I sue when I fall down the stairs, LIRR, NYC, ??, lol!
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