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Brooklyn Bridge Rehab Update: No Lane Closings This Weekend

by Claude Scales on 02. Sep, 2010 in News, Transportation

This in from the folks at Brooklyn Bridge Rehabilitation:

Over the upcoming long weekend, the Brooklyn Bridge will not be closed to Manhattan-bound traffic, or operating Brooklyn-bound detours between the hours of 6 am on Friday, September 3 through to 11 pm on Tuesday, September 7.

In addition, a special construction embargo is in effect for the 9/11 ceremony. All non-emergency work on the Brooklyn Bridge and all approach roadway lane closures is suspended from 3 pm on Friday, September 10 through to 11:59 pm on Saturday, September 11, 2010. (more…)

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BHB Wins Signage Change, Parking Clarification at 20 Henry

by Claude Scales on 27. Aug, 2010 in Brooklyn Heights, News, Parking, Video


Thanks to a campaign spearheaded by BHB reader my2cents and taken up by our Karl Junkersfeld (who made the video above), the City has installed new, easily visible signs adjacent to 29 Henry Street, which now make it clear that parking is allowed along part of the block except on Wednesdays, when street cleaning is done there.

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Boring? New, Lengthy Tunnel Idea Proposed for BQE

by Claude Scales on 25. Aug, 2010 in Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, Government, News, Other Brooklyn, Transportation

Cobble Hill community activist Roy Sloane has proposed re-routing the BQE through what would be the longest highway tunnel in North America, taking it from the Navy Yard, under parts of Fort Greene, Downtown Brooklyn, and Boerum Hill, to the Prospect Expressway.

YourNabe.com: The extraordinarily ambitious two-and-a-half-mile tunnel is one of several options for replacing the beleaguered highway that is being considered by the state Department of Transportation, but it is already emerging as a favorite. (more…)

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Further News on Brooklyn Bridge Rehabilitation

by Claude Scales on 24. Aug, 2010 in News, Transportation

This just in from the folks doing the rehabilitation of Brooklyn Bridge:

1. The erection of the paint removal containment unit at the Franklin Square Arch over Pearl Street in Manhattan is complete. Blasting is expected to begin this week.
2. The promenade will remain open throughout all phases of construction. In order to fully enclose railings and other components however, the paint removal containment units will reduce the width of the path by 1.5 feet on each side and be from 600 to 1000 feet long. For the safety of all bridge users, cyclists will be directed to dismount and walk through the work zone. As work progresses the units will move across the bridge until the project is complete.

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Pier 1 to 6 Pedestrian and Bike Path Now Open

by Claude Scales on 20. Aug, 2010 in News, Transportation, brooklyn bridge park

BHB photo by C. Scales

Two cyclists pass the ruins of Pier 4 on the bike and pedestrian path connecting Piers 1 and 6 of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The path was opened today, ahead of the announced schedule.

Update: There’s more information on the Park’s website.

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Millman: Pedestrian Countdown Signals Coming

by Claude Scales on 18. Aug, 2010 in Election 10, Government, News, Transportation

State Assembly Member Joan Millman announced today that pedestrian countdown signals, which tell pedestrians how much time, in seconds, is left before a light changes, will be installed at crossings on three busy, wide streets adjacent to or near the Heights: Cadman Plaza West, Court Street, and Adams Street. The new signals will be installed in 2011. As quoted in her press release, Ms. Millman said:

Pedestrians, especially senior citizens, people with disabilities and parents with young children, face dangerous conditions at wide intersection crossings. Simply knowing how many seconds remain greatly improves safety at the crossing, as evidenced by the results of DOT’s study. I will continue to urge placement of countdown signals at intersections where they are needed.

Ms. Millman represents the 52nd Assembly District, which includes Brooklyn Heights and nearby neighborhoods. She is up for re-election this year, and faces a challenge in the Democratic primary from Heights resident Doug Biviano.

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Update on Brooklyn Bridge Work: Why It’s Taking So Long

by Claude Scales on 18. Aug, 2010 in Government, Transportation

In response to my earlier post giving a schedule of closures of the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan-bound auto traffic over the next four years to accommodate repair and repainting work, several readers asked: Why not just shut the Bridge down completely and get the job done in a few months’ time? A bit of research provided this answer: DOT did consider complete bridge closures. Among the many reasons for their decision in favor of partial (Manhattan-bound only, and only during off-peak hours or weekends) closure was an analysis of average daily trip figures that showed the peak hour traffic volumes that would be diverted from the Brooklyn Bridge cannot be accommodated on the Williamsburg/Manhattan/Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel crossings, in addition to their current loads.

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“Victory” for Bike Lane Advocate

by Peter Kaufman on 16. Aug, 2010 in Brooklyn Heights, Parking, Transportation

Henry Street Bike Lane - Aug. 15

The Henry Street bike lane, is now actually car-free on Sundays.

Last December was when the BHB first covered the use of the bike-lane as a parking lot by members of the First Presbyterian Church.

It’s taken eight months of my kvetching and strategery, but working with Assemblywoman Millman’s office, and  the 84th precinct, the church has seen the light. Gory details over at Inklake (the blog of yours truly, who promises Homer that he’ll try to write about something else).


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Brooklyn Bridge Manhattan-Bound Traffic Closures Scheduled

by Claude Scales on 14. Aug, 2010 in News, Transportation

Brooklyn Heights Association President Jane McGroarty provides us with information concerning planned closures of the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan-bound vehicular traffic (Brooklyn-bound lanes and the pedestrian and bike path will not be affected; while work is being done on the side of the Bridge that holds the Brooklyn-bound lanes, Brooklyn-bound traffic will be re-routed over the Manhattan-bound side) while painting and repair work is done on the Bridge. Closures will begin on Monday, August 23, and will follow this schedule:

Sunday evenings through Friday mornings: closure will begin at 11:00 PM and end at 6:00 AM.

Saturdays: closure will begin at 12:01 AM and end at 7:00 AM.

Sunday mornings: closure will begin at 12:01 AM and end at 9:00 AM.

It is estimated that these closures will continue until sometime in 2014, when the work is expected to be completed. You can get a downloadable brochure that shows closure dates and times as well as detour routes here. Construction work on the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges, as well as on Brooklyn and Manhattan streets used as detour routes, will be embargoed during closure times.

Addendum: According to the linked brochure, for up to 24 weekends during the four year construction period, there will be full 53 hour (11:00 PM Friday to 6:00 AM Monday) closures of the Manhattan bound lanes. In addition, single lanes in either direction may be closed periodically during off-peak daytime hours to allow preparatory work. Day-to-day information can be obtained through brooklynbridgeoutreach AT gmail DOT com or by calling 347-647-0876.

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Sen. Gillibrand Meets Brooklyn Journalists at Teresa’s; Vows to Fight for Federal Transit Support

by Claude Scales on 12. Aug, 2010 in Election 10, Government, Health, Seniors, Transportation

BHB photo by C. Scales

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), appointed by Governor Paterson to fill the unexpired term of Hillary Clinton, and now facing election on a statewide ballot for the first time, visited Brooklyn today and met with local journalists, including your correspondent and BHS colleague T.K. Small, at Teresa’s. She discussed several issues of interest to Brooklyn voters, including federal support for mass transit, facilitating lending to small businesses, gay and lesbian rights, health care, and government transparency. (more…)

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