$79.7 Million Project Rebuilds 3.5 Miles of Streets and Installs Over 9.5 Miles of New Water Mains and Sewers in Bayside, Auburndale and Flushing

New sewers, sidewalks, catch basins and roads along with enhanced fire protection installed along more than 50 blocks on 33rd, 37th and 38th Avenues

DEP: 718-595-6600, DEPPressOffice@dep.nyc.gov
DOT: (212) 839-4850, press@dot.nyc.gov
DDC: Ian Michaels, 646-939-6514, michaelia@ddc.nyc.gov

(Queens, NY – February 28, 2023) The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced the completion of a $79.7 million infrastructure project that has rebuilt 3.5 miles of Queens streets and brought more reliable drinking water service plus improved drainage and street conditions to the neighborhoods of Bayside, Auburndale and Flushing. The project, which began in September 2017, was managed by DDC and funded largely by DEP and DOT capital dollars.

“This $80 million investment means safer streets, more reliable tap water delivery and less street flooding in Bayside, Auburndale and Flushing,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “DEP has the largest capital budget in our history and we are working closely with our partners at DDC and DOT to ensure similar upgrades are brought to communities across all five boroughs.”

“DOT is proud to have contributed funding to these critical infrastructure improvements in the communities of Bayside, Auburndale and Flushing,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Thousands of Queens residents will benefit from improved sidewalks and pedestrian ramps as a result of this funding and we thank Mayor Adams and our sister agencies for their dedication to this vital project.”

“This project, which was designed and executed by DDC’s professional Infrastructure team, extends across a large part of the borough and has improved water service reliability and street conditions for tens of thousands of Queens residents,” said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley. “Along with our partners at DEP and DOT, we are investing billions of dollars in long-term improvements to Queens infrastructure.”

“This newly completed project is an important investment in our borough’s future that will improve the quality-of-life of so many of our residents,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “The project underscores the City’s strong commitment to improving street safety, increasing the reliability of tap water delivery, and reducing street flooding in Bayside, Auburndale and Flushing. I commend the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Design and Construction, and the Department of Transportation for working together so effectively to address many of our significant infrastructure needs here in Queens.”

“I’m thrilled to hear that this crucial project is finally completed, and I am even more excited for the positive impact it will have on my constituents in the area,” said Council Member Vickie Paladino. “These upgrades will drastically improve the quality of life for residents of Bayside, Auburndale and Flushing by supplying better drinking water AND improving drainage and street conditions. This is a huge win and I want to thank the residents local to this project for their continued patience throughout. We have finally reached our goal and I hope you will all join me in celebrating the completion and thanking the City agencies who made it happen for us.”

“Flooding has gotten progressively worse in northeast Queens, so we are very pleased that the City has finally arrived at the conclusion of this long-awaited infrastructure upgrade,” said State Senator John C. Liu. “Climate change demands immediate and sustained action, and this project will provide much needed improvements to our drinking water, sewer and storm drainage and street conditions. This is a great first step to providing some relief to our community, so we thank DEP, DOT and DDC for working together to get this job done.”

“I welcome news that the long-awaited water and sewer infrastructure upgrade project in Northeast Queens is now complete,” said Assembly Member Edward C. Braunstein. “These upgrades will serve to help relieve local flooding issues and provide more reliable water service to residents in Bayside, Auburndale and Flushing. I want to thank NYC DDC, DEP and DOT for their hard work and collaboration to see this important project through.”

The project, stretching from 156th Street on the west end to 216th Street at the east, replaced over five miles (26,815 feet) of older distribution water mains with new pipes ranging from 8 inches to 24 inches in diameter. More than two miles of new trunk water mains were also added to the neighborhoods, which included 5,775 feet of 72-inch mains and 8,295 feet of 48-inch mains. Fire protection was enhanced with the replacement of 89 old fire hydrants and installation of 17 new fire hydrants.

In addition to water mains, nearly two miles (9,985 feet) of storm, sanitary and combined sewers were replaced and 23 new catch basins were added in the project area to improve stormwater drainage.

As part of the final street restoration, 19,210 feet of new curbs were added the project area and 8,200 feet of old curbs, 432,000 square feet of asphalt and 82,800 square feet of concrete sidewalks were replaced.

To span the Clearview Expressway, the project used micro-tunneling techniques to build three small new tunnels for water, sewer and private utilities under the highway from east to west at 38th Avenue.

The project was designed by DDC’s in-house design team. Construction was completed by C.A.C. Industries, Inc. and engineering services were provided by Entech Mirabal Engineers, PLLC.

About the NYC Department of Environmental Protection
DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.8 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 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 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $15.5 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.