Oct. 18, 2017 By Tara Law
The state DOT has started work on a $13 million revamp of the Jewel Avenue Bridge, which crosses over the Van Wyck Expressway and links Kew Gardens Hills with Forest Hills.
The state is rehabilitating the entrance ramp from Jewel Avenue to the southbound Van Wyck Expressway as well as the exit ramp from the southbound Van Wyck Expressway to Jewel Avenue.
Repairs will be made to the bridge decks and structural steel, and the entire length of the main bridge will also be paved, according to officials. The bridge sidewalks will also be reconstructed.
Existing streetlights and traffic lights will be upgraded to include LED lighting, and new drainage scuppers and fencing will be installed. Safety improvements will be made to bike lanes within the project limits, according to the state DOT.
The state will also be installing additional signage and roadway striping along Meadow Lake Drive. Three retaining walls will be repaired along the eastbound Long Island Expressway, including between 58th Street and Maurice Avenue; between Junction Boulevard and 97th Place; and at the exit ramp at 138th Street.
“This project is an important step forward to ensure that the Jewel Avenue Bridge is safe for pedestrians and motorists to use for many years to come,” Council Member Rory I. Lancman said.
The renovation is expected to be completed in spring 2019.
“This project will provide a reliable bridge and smooth riding surface for the many motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who travel across it each day,” said Cathy Calhoun, acting commissioner of the NYS DOT.
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