New York City (NYC) officials announced the completion of a $28.9 million project to upgrade drainage, streets, water mains and sewers in the Gerritsen Beach section of Brooklyn.
The construction took nine months shorter than expected, and the project saved more than $3.5 million from the original $32.4 million budget. The project was a collaboration between the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC).
Construction began in June 2020, six months later than originally scheduled in order to adjust the design to accommodate specific requests from residents in the community, and ended in December 2022, three months ahead of the original schedule. DDC managed the project for DEP and DOT and the design was completed by DDC’s In-House Design team.
"New Yorkers know our communities need high-quality streets and infrastructure to guard against the impacts of climate change,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "Along with Mayor Adams and our partners at DEP and DDC, we are delighted to bring new sidewalks, pavement, pedestrian ramps, water main, catch basin, bulkhead and sewer upgrades to the dynamic Gerritsen Beach community. These essential improvements will strengthen climate resiliency as well as improve quality of life and public safety in southern Brooklyn for generations to come.”
Beneath the new streets improvements were also made to the water supply and stormwater drainage systems. Almost 13,000 feet of old water mains were replaced with new pipes, as were 1,050 feet of storm sewers and 1,510 feet of sanitary sewers. Crews also reconstructed two bulkheads where the storm sewers discharge into Shell Bank Creek.
The project also installed 60 new fire hydrants to improve fire response and 72 new catch basins to help drain stormwater from the streets.
