astoria-street-improvement

The Department of Transportation released a safety proposal for the Astoria intersection of 32nd Street and Astoria Boulevard North, adjacent to the exit ramp of the Grand Central Parkway. The 114th Precinct identified this particular intersection as the most accident-prone location in the area. According to Assemblymember Aravella Simotas, who has pushed for streetscape improvements here, “The DOT proposes extending the median between Astoria Boulevard North and the Grand Central Parkway in order to separate local and expressway traffic. Local vehicles traveling west on Astoria Boulevard will no longer be able to make a left turn at 31st Street, and motorists exiting the GCP will no longer have the option to turn right at 31st Street.” (Check out the proposed rendering above.) As it exists now, the Grand Central Parkway exit ramp merges directly with Astoria Boulevard North. This creates a seven-lane intersection where vehicles attempt multiple-lane crossovers across very short distances.

The DOT will take its proposal to Community Board 1 next week and will be looking for community input. Check out four more images from the proposal after the jump.

The DOT Looks to Reconfigure Dangerous Astoria Intersection [Q’Stoner]


existing

proposal

permitted-movements

detail


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. The street is worse now thanks to the dot great plan. All the merging takes place after the train station now very dangerous for cars. No difference you must make the traffic lights change at different times from Astoria blvd and off the parkway so all that merging doesn’t take place by the triboro bridge.