The Battle to Fix New York's Busiest Highway

🚧The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is one of the busiest highways in New York, but it is in a state of disrepair.

🌉The BQE is Brooklyn's only interstate highway and plays a critical role in transporting goods and people in and out of the city.

⚙️Years of wear and tear, harsh weather, and increasing traffic have caused sections of the BQE to crumble.

🔧Previous proposals to fix the BQE, including temporary repairs, road closures, and even demolition, have faced challenges and delays.

🏗️A new plan is set to begin in 2023, focusing on the critical city-owned section of the highway and aiming for cheaper and faster repairs.

Why is the BQE in such bad shape?

—The BQE has been subjected to years of wear and tear, harsh weather conditions, increasing traffic, and illegally overweight trucks. Additionally, the steel inside the concrete is corroding due to excessive road salt and water infiltration.

What are the consequences if the BQE shuts down?

—If the BQE shuts down, the next best option for hundreds of thousands of vehicles would be to drive through narrow residential streets, which would cause significant congestion and inconvenience.

Has there been any progress in fixing the BQE?

—Over the years, various proposals have been made to fix the BQE, including temporary repairs, road closures, and even demolition. However, disagreements and delays have hindered progress. A new plan is set to begin in 2023, focusing on the critical city-owned section of the highway.

When will the repairs on the BQE start?

—The repairs on the BQE are scheduled to start in 2023, following a community engagement process and design phase. Interim repairs are currently being made to ensure the BQE's immediate safety.

What is the long-term strategy to fix the BQE?

—The long-term strategy to fix the BQE involves repairs and reinforcements to the critical city-owned section between Atlantic Avenue and Sand Street. The plan aims for cheaper and faster repairs compared to previous proposals.

00:00The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) is one of the busiest highways in New York, but it is in a state of disrepair.

00:32Years of wear and tear, harsh weather, and increasing traffic have caused sections of the BQE to crumble.

01:20Various proposals have been made to fix the BQE, including temporary repairs, road closures, and even demolition.

05:15A new plan is set to begin in 2023, focusing on the critical city-owned section of the highway and aiming for cheaper and faster repairs.

09:00The repairs on the BQE are scheduled to start in 2023, following a community engagement process and design phase.