BQE Transformation on Hold, City Plans Weight Restrictions and Limiting Lanes Instead

Despite grave concerns over the stability of the roadway, prepandemic plans to replace the crumbling triple-cantilevered section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in Brooklyn Heights have officially been put on hold.

This is according to a plan released today by Mayor de Blasio and Department of Transportation Commissioner Hank Gutman, which says it hopes to extend the life of the BQE “for at least another 20 years.”

How will this happen? They say they plan to tackle the problem in four ways: stop water infiltration to slow down corrosion, shift lanes from three to two and install technology that fines vehicles that are over the weight limit, make immediate repairs to the retaining wall along Hicks Street (with more repairs coming next year), and develop a long term plan for the future of the entire expressway in collaboration with affected communities.

De Blasio first spoke of the plan earlier this year, before delaying the details numerous times. An expert panel the mayor convened in 2019, which suggested the lane reduction and a long-term vision for the expressway included in the mayor’s current plan, also predicted that the roadway could begin falling apart as soon as 2026.

A number of ideas for what to ultimately do with the triple-cantilevered section of the BQE have been proposed in recent years, including two by the Department of Transportation that were rejected by local residents, as well as an innovative plan from the architect Bjarke Ingels.

Related Stories

• Mayor Pledges BQE Cantilever Repair While Full Fix Is Delayed
• Mayor Says City Will Propose Its BQE Repair Solution Next Month
• City Council-Hired Engineers Say Bjarke Ingels-Designed BQE Fix Is the Best Option

Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.