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Mayor Zohran Mamdani Unveils $4 Billion Plan to Rehabilitate the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a $4 billion project to repair the city-owned section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, known as BQE Central. The plan aims to address the deteriorating triple cantilever structure and aging concrete that is currently 20 years past its design life. To keep the highway operable during construction, the administration announced the construction of two temporary bypasses: a two-level bypass on Furman Street below the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and an elevated bypass from Columbia Heights to the Manhattan Bridge. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2030 and will take approximately 10 years to complete, extending the highway's lifespan by 40 years. The administration announced that the project will be funded through city funds rather than federal dollars. The plan addresses a long-standing infrastructure issue where every year of delay costs the city $160 million. While some community groups expressed concerns regarding the impact on Brooklyn Bridge Park, the administration announced that the new bypasses will preserve views from the promenade and avoid sending tens of thousands of daily vehicles onto local streets.

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