Press Release Archives - 564-96 Sewer Project for Queens

Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 31, 1996

Release #564-96

Contact: Jack Deacy (212)788-2969, or Matt Monahan (718)391-1641

MAYOR GIULIANI ANNOUNCES ACCELERATION OF MAJOR SPRINGFIELD GARDENS SEWER PROJECT TO ALLEVIATE SOUTHEAST QUEENS FLOODING

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced that the scheduled completion date of a major storm sewer project in Queens will be accelerated by almost three years to bring drainage relief to the hard-hit, flood-prone communities of Springfield Gardens, Laurelton and Brookville.

In the aftermath of the severe rains of October 19th, Mayor Giuliani directed Commissioner Luis M. Tormenta of the Department of Design and Construction, which now manages the project, to reevaluate schedules of the $70 million multi-phased project already in progress. Commissioner Tormenta proposed a plan in which the last two phases will be done concurrently, rather than in sequence, making the projected completion date December 1999 rather than September 2002.

"The people of Southeast Queens have suffered every time an extraordinary storm occurs," Mayor Giuliani said. "The changes we are announcing today will insure that the storm sewer is finished almost three years ahead of schedule. That will provide relief from the flooding that occurs in these communities. In the meantime, other City agencies will be working with Queens Borough President Claire Shulman and her staff and with community leaders to see what other interim relief we can provide."

"I want to commend the Mayor for taking action that will significantly accelerate this sewer project which is vital to the health and safety of a quarter of a million Queens residents," Queens Borough President Claire Shulman said. "We will continue to work closely with the Mayor and his Commissioners to see what else we can do to lessen the impact of flooding during major storms."

Commissioner Tormenta said a Department of Design and Construction analysis shows that barring unforeseen conditions Phases III and IV will begin at about the same time in 1998. "We are bringing all of our resources to bear in order to get this vital project completed so residents of southeast Queens will no longer be adversely affected when heavy rains fall." Commissioner Tormenta said.

Phase I of the storm sewer project, which began in 1992, is nearing completion. It consists of construction of four 17-foot wide, by 8-feet high sewer "barrels," or channels, from Thurston Basin, near John F. Kennedy International Airport, through Idlewild Park.

Phase II will start next summer. A two-barrel, 15-foot wide, by 6 -feet high storm sewer will be built from 226th Street to 148th Avenue to South Conduit Avenue. That will intercept water flow from the east which currently runs to the heavily used 225th Street sewer which is the outlet from the Springfield Gardens flow. The new sewer will provide relief for communities south of the Belt Parkway -- Laurelton and Brookville -- now relying on the Springfield Gardens system. This phase is scheduled to be completed at the end of 1998.

Phase III will be built under the Belt Parkway and will head north with storm sewers in both 143rd Avenue and 143rd Road connecting with Phase IV at Springfield Boulevard. Phase IV will proceed north along Springfield Boulevard from 143rd Road to Carson Street. This will provide major relief in the area of 139th Avenue and 141st Avenue. Work should be complete and the system operational by the end of 1999.