A $159 million reconstruction of the Van Wyck Expressway in New York City to ease congestion between two major airports has been completed, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.
The New York State Department of Transportation project is part of a $400 million reconstruction of the Kew Gardens Interchange where the Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway, Jackie Robinson Parkway and Union Turnpike intersect. The project involved reconstructing and widening portions of the highway in Queens, which is part of Interstate 678 and is a major roadway to access LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports.
"This project is a key part in this administration's unprecedented commitment to transforming our infrastructure to meet the needs of current and future generations of New Yorkers," said Cuomo in a statement. "The reconstruction of the Van Wyck will improve its safety and reliability, allowing commuters and commercial vehicles get where they need to go quicker and without delay."
In addition to creating extra lanes, the reconstruction also features a new bridge to carry Queens Boulevard over the Van Wyck Expressway. A new highway wall was also constructed just feet from the E/F subway line and a pedestrian tunnel was built at the Briarwood subway station with two separate entrances.
"The project to completely reconstruct the Van Wyck Expressway will reap countless benefits on New Yorkers who travel this roadway each and every day," State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr., D-Ozone Park, said in a statement. "Investments in our city's infrastructure lead to more opportunities that help New York flourish, and the renovations completed to this major corridor will be felt by millions."
A separate $104 million New York State DOT project that was completed earlier this year replaced the northbound Van Wyck Expressway between Hoover and 72ndAvenues. The former two-lane viaduct was replaced with a three-lane viaduct with shoulders. A one-lane ramp connecting the eastbound Jackie Robinson Parkway and Union Turnpike with the northbound Van Wyck Expressway was also replaced with a new two-lane ramp.
