June 2, 2010

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Farrell Sklerov /Angel Román (718) 595-6600

DEP, DOT, DDC Complete Flushing Avenue Reconstruction

$53 Million Project to Improve Water Distribution and Enhance Streetscape in Brooklyn

Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway, Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, and Design and Construction Commissioner David Burney today announced the completion of a $53 million reconstruction project on Flushing Avenue to ensure a more reliable water supply system for the northern part of Brooklyn, and to enhance the local streetscape. As part of the project, two new steel trunk water mains, one 60-inch and the other 48-inch, have been added to the existing grid to improve water pressure and provide critical water redundancy throughout the area. It also included new or upgraded sanitary and storm sewers, curbs, sidewalks, traffic signals, streetlights, trees, traffic signage, bus stops, and street repavement. The reconstruction project was funded by DEP and DOT and managed by DDC.

"Projects like the Flushing Avenue reconstruction ensure that our water distribution network will run smoothly for decades to come," said Commissioner Holloway. "The addition of these two water mains adds crucial redundancy to the Brooklyn water supply network so that service to our customers can remain uninterrupted even when other parts of the system are under repair. I want to thank DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and DDC Commissioner David Burney for helping make this project a reality."

"This vital infrastructure project is now the foundation as we work with communities to expand the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway, improving the streetscape even more and connecting neighborhoods along the entire corridor," said Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. 

"We appreciate the patience and understanding by residents, merchants and businesses along Flushing Avenue as we renewed the water supply and sewer system and rebuilt the roadway from the Manhattan Bridge to Bushwick," said DDC Commissioner David J. Burney, FAIA. "This improvement in infrastructure is now complete and will serve the public for years to come."

"We are grateful to the many dedicated workers as well as to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection for completing the Flushing Avenue water main project.  It is an essential improvement to the people who depend on a consistent source of water within this corridor," said Council Member Diana Reyna.  "Projects like these provide critical infrastructure upgrades for the residents and businesses in the area. This is an investment in our future."

The new water mains on Flushing Avenue will improve water supply distribution by providing a critical redundancy that will minimize disruption to consumers during any future water main work and service shutdowns. Residents in northern Brooklyn will also be less likely to experience low water pressure and discolored water when other water mains in the vicinity are being repaired or upgraded.

The reconstruction of Flushing Avenue took place between Cypress Avenue and the Manhattan Bridge. The project added one 60-inch and one 48-inch trunk main nearly two miles in length and four miles of smaller water distribution mains. In addition, two miles of combined sewers, 247 catch basins and 104 fire hydrants were installed. The reconstruction also included the installation of 42,175 linear feet of concrete curb, 480,900 square feet of concrete sidewalk, 122,500 square yards of asphalt roadway, 86 traffic signals, 172 streetlights, new street signage, 49 bus stops and 320 trees.

Upgrading water distribution and sewer infrastructure is a central part of DEP's upcoming capital plan. In Brooklyn specifically, DEP has budgeted $1.54 billion from FY 2010 through 2014, including $142 million for new sewers, $153 million for the Gowanus Pumping Station upgrade, as well as $548 million in additional investments at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.

DEP manages the City's water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of water each day to more than 9 million residents. New York City's water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the City, and is comprised of 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,400 miles of sewer lines take wastewater to 14 in-City treatment plants.