leadpaint_131009.jpgSome residents of Carroll Gardens and Redhook have expressed concern recently over the large green tanks that have appeared in the past few weeks at the Kane, Union, Sackett, and Summit Street bridges over the B.Q.E. The tanks are containment units for lead paint and other hazardous materials that are produced in the cleaning of the bridges, and some locals are worried about possible health risks. Lost City, for example, noticed a “sudden bad air quality” and pointed out that the containers are unprotected and exposed in public spaces where children could endanger themselves; City Room, from The New York Times, noticed “duct-tape patching” on these ancient-seeming containers. The Word on Columbia Street shares the public’s concerns, but also points out that the NYC Department of Transportation uses a set of procedures approved by national, state, and city health and environmental organizations such as the EPA and the New York State Department of Health. Kieran Aherns, who was contracted for the job, told The Word that the process of sandblasting and vacuuming the waste is performed with constant air quality monitoring, but a noticeable dust in the air has left residents unconvinced.
Are B.Q.E. Lead Shacks Poisoning Carroll Gardens? [Lost City]
The Mystery of Those Metal Units over the B.Q.E. [City Room]
Lead Paint Removal on Hicks Street Bridges [TWOCS]
Photo by The Word on Columbia Street


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. The total lack of community notification is a troubling aspect of this stealth operation. The tarps and plywood meant to do what really? on the fences of Hicks at the bridges creates a potentially deadly situation for pedestrians. The sight lines are now completely gone when crossing the bridges on the nothbound side of Hicks. One step into 45-50+ mph hour traffic and you are GONER. Let’s pray that this does not happen to anyone and is not repeated in the future.