when safety projects create risk
hey MO: what is going on with the construction on 4th Ave in Sunset Park? What’s the DOT doing? Right now the construction work in the median is causing congestion as the two lanes going north narrow to one. Inevitably drivers swerve into the bike lane to try to manually turn the road back into two lanes. As a bike rider, I appreciate many of the changes made to 4th Ave over the years, but currently this section feels very dangerous and I just want to know what it’s all for and when will it be over.
hey you: the construction on 4th Avenue is part of a DOT Great Streets project and MTA accessibility upgrade at the 36th Street subway station. Together, these projects have made the corridor between 37th and 27th Streets especially difficult for light mobility users. With lanes removed, temporary signage and shared-lane markings were installed, but enforcement is sparse. Vehicles often idle or park in the lanes, forcing bikes and other light vehicles to merge into faster, heavier traffic. Construction debris and metal plates create additional hazards. DOT has been asked why a temporary protected bike lane was not provided and has not yet responded.
According to Community Board 7, the DOT safety project is expected to finish by 2028. Construction of the MTA accessibility project is scheduled to be completed by December 2026.
If you face challenges in work zones here is what you can do:
- Plan ahead and check the NYC Planning Department’s Capital Project Portal before traveling.
- Report blocked lanes to 311, the corridor’s police precinct, and the local community board office.
- Document hazards with timestamped photos or videos and notify your City Council member and/or the DOT Community Construction Liaison.
- Raise concerns at monthly police precinct Quality of Life (Q-team) community council meetings, Community Board general meetings, and Borough President public forums.
Thank you for sharing your question! The more organizations, city agencies, and elected officials hear directly from the public, the more likely conditions will improve.
*askMO submissions are italicized and published as received. **A version of this post is featured in the Sunset Post.
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