Lefferts Boulevard Bridge Construction Complete, State Says

QUEENS, NY – Construction is complete on the Lefferts Boulevard bridge over the Belt Parkway in southeast Queens, an essential overpass for drivers to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport. The rehab was part of a $49-million project repairing bridges in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.

The project cost $22.2 million in federal and state money, according to a spokesman for the state department of transportation, which owns the bridge. El Sol Contracting & Construction, based in Maspeth, worked on the project with engineers from Ammann & Whitney, according to a 2017 document awarding the bid.

“The completion of the Lefferts Boulevard Bridge project marks a progressive step forward in improving the safety and timeliness of travel for motorists in southeast Queens and beyond," State Sen. James Sanders Jr., a Democrat who represents parts of southeast Queens, said in a statement.

"It also represents a vital investment in the long-term stability of our city’s infrastructure and sets a welcome precedent for future improvements to our streets, bridges and tunnels.”

Randall Avenue Bridge over the Throgs Neck Expressway in the Bronx and the 86th Street Bridge over the Gowanus Expressway in Brooklyn were also part of the bridge rehab project.

“The completion of this three-bridge project represents smart investments we are making to ensure that New York is well equipped to meet the transportation needs of motorists today and in the future,” New York State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Paul A. Karas said in a statement.

“The successful rehabilitation of the Lefferts Boulevard Bridge enhances safety and improves the travel experience for motorists moving throughout Queens.”

(Lead image: New York State Department of Transportation)