Attention all drivers, parts of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) in Brooklyn are closed this weekend. Here’s what you need to know before you hit the road.
When is the BQE closed?
Parts of the BQE were closed starting at 2 a.m. on Oct. 14, and will remain shut through 4 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16.
Which parts are closed?
During this time, the Queens-bound section of the BQE between Atlantic Avenue and Stands Street is fully closed, and traffic on the Staten Island-bound BQE will be reduced to one lane between Sands Street and Atlantic Avenue.
For Queens-bound travel, entrance ramps are closed at 3rd Avenue, 6th Avenue, Prospect Expressway, Hamilton Avenue, and Atlantic Avenue. Exit ramps are shuttered at Cadman Plaza, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Manhattan Bridge. For Staten Island-bound drivers, entrance ramps at Flushing Avenue, Sands Street, and Vine Street are closed.
Why are areas of the BQE closed?
The notoriously congested roadway is long overdue for repairs. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will be adding additional concrete and reinforcing steel bars to stretches of the crumbling cantilever near Clark Street and Grace Court to help ensure the structural longevity of the BQE.
Is any public transportation affected?
Those who utilize public transportation should be fine, with the exception of those who take the B67 and B79 — bus stops for these lines at Pearl and Sands streets will also be closed as a result of the construction.
Where can I drive this weekend if not on the BQE?
For those who absolutely need to drive in that area, fear not. Traffic will be redirected to local streets for the duration of the closure, with tons of signage telling you where to go. Be sure to allow extra time for travel as it may get crowded as a result. Check out the detour map below.
