Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 30, 1996

Release #563-96

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Brice Peyre (212) 442-7033


MAYOR GIULIANI ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL OUTBOUND CAPACITY TO
EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON QUEENSBOROUGH BRIDGE

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today joined with Assemblymember John Ravitz (R-L, Manhattan), State Senator Roy M. Goodman (R-L, Manhattan), Councilmember Andrew Eristoff (R-L, Manhattan) and Transportation Commissioner Christopher R. Lynn to announce that additional outbound capacity would be made available on the Queensborough Bridge during afternoon and evening rush hours, starting on Monday, November 11, 1996.

"A fifth outbound lane will be freed up to accommodate Queens-bound motorists every weekday between 3:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.," the Mayor Giuliani said. "After consulting with East Side community leaders like Assemblymember Ravitz and Senator Goodman, we agree that this additional step must be taken to alleviate long-standing traffic congestion problems plaguing the neighborhoods surrounding the 59th Street Bridge."

The Mayor also announced today that a return to the previous traffic plan, whereby Queens-bound motorists could enter onto the Bridge's South upper roadway by accessing the 57th and 58th Street ramps, would be initiated after the November 11th opening of the South outer roadway on the Bridge's lower level to afternoon rush hour vehicular traffic.

Recently, the Department of Transportation altered traffic patterns around the Bridge after receiving many complaints from East Side residents, elected officials, and Community Boards. In order to reduce traffic tie-ups around the mouth of the Bridge near 59th Street and to reduce congestion on Second Avenue, Queens-bound traffic was directed to entrance ramps on East 62nd and East 63rd Streets leading to the span's North upper roadway. starting on October 14th. Congestion problems persisted, however, particularly on East 62nd Street.

"We are pleased that Mayor Giuliani and his administration have been responsive to community concerns," said Assemblyman Ravitz, who represents Manhattan's 73rd Assembly District on the East Side. "Specifically, we applaud the decision to alleviate traffic congestion on East 62nd Street, which is a heavily residential street," said the legislator.

Senator Goodman, who represents the 26th Senate District on Manhattan's East Side, seconded Assemblymember Ravitz' remarks. "Traffic congestion has plagued the East Side neighborhood around the 59th Street Bridge for far too long, and has become a serious quality-of-life issue," said the Senator. "I applaud the Mayor for responding to our concerns, and acting upon them," said the Senator.

Councilmember Andrew Eristoff said, "On behalf of the community, I am deeply grateful to Mayor Giuliani for his flexibility in addressing this difficult and complex issue. His action today will restore a measure of peace and tranquillity to East 62nd Street while improving traffic conditions throughout the larger community."



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