Squadron Helps Drivers Get Off (The FDR)
Most Brooklynites are familiar with what a mess it can be to take the Brooklyn Bridge exit from the southbound FDR drive. Well, State Senator Squadron just worked out a deal with State DOT to make some changes, including new painted lines and EXIT ONLY signs, by the end of the year. Think it’ll help?
Most Brooklynites are familiar with what a mess it can be to take the Brooklyn Bridge exit from the southbound FDR drive. Well, State Senator Squadron just worked out a deal with State DOT to make some changes, including new painted lines and EXIT ONLY signs, by the end of the year. Think it’ll help?
Any real Brooklynite rides in the left and middle lane and then cuts in at the last minute – the right lane is for tourists, suckers and drunks.
Same applies to the Cadman Plaza Exit on the other side (although for the life of me I cant figure out why your not allowed to exit from the middle lane anyway – as the ramp is 2 lanes)
“Think it’ll help?”
Hell no! Build another ramp!
***Bill Thompson for Mayor (VOTE TODAY!!!)***
There’s always someone in the queue dozing allowing the line-cutters in. My wife is a champion line cutter – a cause of marital strife.
When I’m in the exit only lane I allow hybrids to cut in front. SUVs, TLC cars and taxis can go to hell.
Get off the FDR at the exit before, for the Manhattan Bridge. Proceed on the service road past Pathmark, past the housing projects (past my daughter’s school on Catherine St.), and just past the last project, until you see the bridge above. Make a right. Go to the light, make a left, and a right onto the bridge.
Get home 10 mins earlier.
When I read “Squadron” I assumed you meant deploying a permanent military presence in that region of the FDR.
Brownstoner Poll: For those drivers out there. Do you wait in the long line or do you cut to the front? For those who queue up… What type of person do you allow to squeeze in front of your car, if any?
The most effective strategy to to the bridge is to stay in the far left lane of the southbound FDR until you are about 75 feet from the exit. Then quickly cut over 2 lanes, catching the the people foolishly waiting in the exit only lane by surprise when you cut them off.
All of the above could stop the cutting/merging on the FDR, but that’s not what’s causing the back-ups. The back-ups are caused by the two merges on the bridge approach ramps. There’s no easy fix without adding a lane.
What Brooklynites need most to solve the bridge’s traffic woes is to create a dedicated exit ramp/tunnel from the bridge onto the south (aka west) bound BQE. A big chunk of bridge traffic is headed straight to the BQE. But the exit ramp merge approaching Cadman Plaza West, followed by a yield sign and two traffic lights, slows the flow and causes all of those right lane back-ups on the bridge that sometime snake all the way to the FDR. A dedicated connection to the BQE would also get a lot of traffic off of Old Fulton Street and make for a safer, nicer pedestrian approach to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Needless to say, this is a more ambitious project.
Senator Squadron, are you reading?
While I’ve complained many times about the lack of traffic enforcement, the NYPD sure knows how to pick the low hanging fruit!!
Rather than dealing with actually dangerous drivers, it has patrols out looking for cell phone users AND ticketing people that cross the white line at the Prospect Expressway –> BQE exit. Both of these seem like great ways to make sure we’re safe on the roads!
Oh right — it’s not about safety… it about minimal effort with minimal effect! (except maybe some revenue and a lowered opinion of the NYPD)
I’m sure enforcing this FDR Drive exit has been on their list of “Not making the city safer, but a good activity for fellow officers getting time-and-a-half overtime!”