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Before a infrastructure project big enough to “significantly affect the quality of the human environment” can be undertaken, both Federal and State law require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. The rehabilitation of the 1.5 miles of the BQE that runs between Atlantic Avenue and Sands Street is one such project; this stretch alone contains 21 bridges as well as the triple-cantilever structure below the promenade. There was a Public Information Session and Scoping Meeting to launch the EIS process back on June 22, but public comment on the Draft Scoping Document prepared by New York State DOT and Federal Highway Administration is still being solicited up until July 22nd. You can leave your comments here.


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. This stretch of the highway should be enclosed in a tunel structure and topped by green terraced parkland that would reconnect the neighborhood with the waterfront. The tunel would elimnate the noise of the highway and greatly imporve the aesthetic quality of the new Brooklyn Bridge Park. It is a shame that they did not originally opt to tunnel this section of the highway as it was built back in the day when ambitious public works were still the norm. My guess is that Robert Moses did not wish to hide his gorgeous expressway.

  2. The key to coming up with a good rehab plan: anticipating the future.

    It sounds stupid, since it’s so obvious, but public projects (esp. those involving transportation) tend to get off on the wrong track when considerations of future growth (need for green space, changing mass-transit needs, changing neighborhood population trends, etc.) are discounted in favor of the lowest common denominator: wider and beefier roadways that may reduce congestion, but also act as tougher barriers to livable neighborhoods than they ever were before.