New York Construction Report staff writer
A $79.7 million infrastructure project that rebuilt 3.5 miles of Queens streets and improved drainage and street conditions to the neighborhoods of Bayside, Auburndale and Flushing has been completed. The project, which began in September 2017, was managed by the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and funded largely by DEP and DOT capital dollars.
The project was designed by DDC’s in-house design team. Construction was completed by C.A.C. Industries, Inc. and engineering services were provided by Entech Mirabal Engineers, PLLC.
“This $80 million investment means safer streets, more reliable tap water delivery and less street flooding in Bayside, Auburndale and Flushing,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “DEP has the largest capital budget in our history and we are working closely with our partners at DDC and DOT to ensure similar upgrades are brought to communities across all five boroughs.”
Stretching from 156th Street on the west to 216th Street on the east, workers replaced over five miles (26,815 feet) of older distribution water mains with new pipes ranging from 8 inches to 24 inches in diameter. More than two miles of new trunk water mains were also added to the neighborhoods, which included 5,775 feet of 72-inch mains and 8,295 feet of 48-inch mains. Fire protection was enhanced with the replacement of 89 old fire hydrants and installation of 17 new fire hydrants.
In addition to water mains, nearly two miles (9,985 feet) of storm, sanitary and combined sewers were replaced and 23 new catch basins were added in the project area to improve stormwater drainage.
As part of the final street restoration, 19,210 feet of new curbs were added the project area and 8,200 feet of old curbs, 432,000 square feet of asphalt and 82,800 square feet of concrete sidewalks were replaced.
To span the Clearview Expressway, the project used micro-tunneling techniques to build three small new tunnels for water, sewer and private utilities under the highway from east to west at 38th Avenue.
“DOT is proud to have contributed funding to these critical infrastructure improvements in the communities of Bayside, Auburndale and Flushing,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Thousands of Queens residents will benefit from improved sidewalks and pedestrian ramps.”
