Cities across the United States, including Detroit, Seattle, New Orleans, Baltimore and New York, are facing hard decisions regarding aging highway infrastructure built between the 1950s and 1970s. These structures, originally intended to ease travel from suburbs to city centers, are now showing their age and require either extensive repair or complete replacement.
The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Challenge
In New York City, the most pressing case involves a 0.4-mile section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) known as the triple cantilever. Once lauded as an architectural achievement, the structure is now undergoing temporary fixes while officials determine a long-term solution. “Something has to be done, right? Doing nothing is not an option,” said Ian Coss, creator of the “Big Dig” podcast.
The potential scale of the BQE project has drawn comparisons to Boston’s “Big Dig.” One director involved in the Big Dig later consulted with Seattle officials, who, according to Coss, specifically requested to avoid a similar undertaking.
Under former Mayor Eric Adams, the city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) developed 13 options for addressing the triple cantilever. The administration gathered public feedback, even considering proposals for a larger-scale overhaul of the highway stretching from the Kosciuszko Bridge to the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
Former Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez warned that without significant action, “we will demand to undertake disruptive, large-scale and expensive annual repairs and face potential operational changes to the highway.” Concerns about the BQE’s condition have been raised since at least 2018.
The current DOT, led by Commissioner Mike Flynn, is now evaluating whether to proceed with environmental reviews based on the Adams administration’s proposals or to pursue a long-term rehabilitation plan. Flynn stated, “We will not kick the can down the road,” and emphasized that major work must be completed by the finish of the decade to prevent the need to divert truck traffic onto local streets.
Yankee Stadium Elevator Updates
In other transit news, the MTA has provided an update regarding the elevators at Yankee Stadium. The five elevators currently undergoing replacement are expected to be operational by spring of this year, ideally in time for the Yankees’ home opener on April 3. This work is part of a larger effort to make an overwhelming majority of subway stations ADA-compliant by 2050, driven by a class-action settlement.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the elevators at Yankee Stadium be opened again?
The MTA expects the five elevators at Yankee Stadium to be back in service by the spring of this year, ideally by the Yankees’ home opener on April 3.
What is the main issue with the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway?
A 0.4-mile section of the BQE, known as the triple cantilever, is aging and requires either major repair or replacement.
What happened with the “Big Dig” project in Boston?
The Big Dig took two decades to complete and cost nearly $15 billion, becoming a cautionary tale for ambitious highway projects.
As cities grapple with aging infrastructure, what trade-offs will be made between short-term fixes and long-term, potentially disruptive, solutions?
