Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release #17-069
Friday, October 20, 2017
Contact:
DOT: Scott Gastel/Brian Zumhagen (212) 839-4850
DDC: Ian Michaels (718) 391-1589

DOT and DDC Join Queens Elected Officials to Celebrate Resurfacing and Additional Enhancements along Jamaica Avenue

Almost 13 lane miles repaved on major Queens thoroughfare, with new pedestrian safety improvements around schools

NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia and NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Deputy Commissioner for Infrastructure Eric Macfarlane were joined by State Senator Leroy Comrie and Council Member Daneek Miller today to announce the repaving of Jamaica Avenue from Francis Lewis Boulevard to 168th Street. The newly resurfaced portion of the major thoroughfare spans 2.2 miles, or 12.74 lane miles total including traffic lanes and a parking lane in each direction.

"This resurfacing makes Jamaica Avenue safer and work better for everyone who lives, travels or does business in this community,” said DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia. “While the fresh asphalt gives everyone a smoother surface, we also improved safety around schools by installing concrete islands to shorten crossing distances, adding new pedestrian signals and fixing and replacing sidewalks, curbs and pedestrian ramps."

The Jamaica Avenue resurfacing project is part of Mayor de Blasio’s ten-year investment of $1.6 billion in street repaving that has led to a more than 50-percent decline in the number of potholes across the City. Since 2014, DOT has paved 4,500 lane-miles of roadways out of 19,000 total Citywide, or nearly 25 percent.

“Jamaica Avenue is a vital artery through an important commercial district, and DDC was pleased to expedite the repaving, working at night so as to minimize disturbances to the community,” said DDC Acting Commissioner Ana Barrio. “Over 70,000 square yards of asphalt were put down in less than two weeks, providing a safer and smoother surface for this heavily traveled street.”

DDC began capital work to mill and repave the road in July. As part of the project, almost 100 corner pedestrian ramps were repaired. Additionally, over 19,000 square feet of sidewalk and over 1,200 feet of curbs were repaired or replaced.

“Jamaica Avenue runs through the heart of our community’s bustling Jamaica commercial district,” said Council Member I. Daneek Miller. “Years of neglect forced consumers and suppliers to use this crucial artery under hazardous conditions that detracted from the economic growth of local businesses, and left pedestrians prone to injury. This repaving underscores the public recognition that Jamaica’s appeal extends beyond the boundaries of Southeast Queens to all of our City’s residents. I thank Mayor de Blasio, Department of Transportation Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia and her colleagues, and the Department of Design and Construction for responding to this longstanding concern of my constituents. Additionally, I wish to thank the members of Community Boards 12 and 13 for their legacy of advocacy on this issue.”

"Jamaica Avenue is among the busiest thoroughfares in our entire borough, so I thank the NYC Department of Transportation and Council Member I. Daneek Miller for their work to see the completion of this much-needed resurfacing project," said State Senator Leroy Comrie. "Because of how vital it is to the overall transportation infrastructure of Southeast Queens, Jamaica Avenue should be resurfaced regularly to repair the damage that is caused by heavy commercial traffic."

“The repaving of Jamaica Avenue is a significant achievement in the ongoing development of the Jamaica business district. Upgrading our infrastructure will ensure our local economy continues to thrive,” said U.S. Representative Gregory W. Meeks. “I would like to thank the Department of Transportation, Councilmember Miller, and the residents of Jamaica for their tireless advocacy.”

“Jamaica Avenue serves as a vital artery in our transportation infrastructure impacting motorists, pedestrians and small businesses,” said Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman. “This roadwork is critical for our community. I want to thank the de Blasio administration, my colleagues in government as well as Community Board 12 and 13 for their advocacy on behalf of Southeast Queens residents.”

This work is being completed with $1.8 million of federal National Highway Performance (NHPP) funding and $450,000 in NYS Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding.

In 2015, Mayor de Blasio announced a $1.6 billion commitment to resurface roads citywide over the next decade, with 2,500 lane miles to be resurfaced in Fiscal Years ‘16 and ‘17. He has also budgeted for 1,300 lane miles each year for Fiscal Years ‘18 and ‘19. This historic investment in road resurfacing is resulting in smoother roads and fewer potholes for all New Yorkers.

This latest resurfacing project shows the city’s continued efforts to maintain more than 19,000 lane miles (over 6,000 miles) of roadway citywide. As of this week, DOT has resurfaced 300 lane miles in Queens, and more than 1,000 lane miles citywide this calendar year. For information about DOT’s ongoing efforts to address potholes and roadway maintenance, please visit www.nyc.gov/dot, and please report any pothole condition to The Daily Pothole or to 311.

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About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
About the NYC Department of Design and Construction The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s lenses of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, new or upgraded roadways, sewers, water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $15 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative, and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to city projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.

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