BQE Central Project

The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) is an essential component of the region's transportation network. It not only serves to connect Brooklyn with key access points in Manhattan, Queens, and on Staten Island, but it also carries regional trucks and other traffic, keeping this traffic off local Brooklyn streets.

BQE Central is the approximately 1.5-mile City-owned section of the BQE (Interstate-278) between Atlantic Avenue and Sands Street in Brooklyn. This section includes multiple bridge structures – including the historic 0.4-mile-long "Triple Cantilever". The BQE Central Project focuses on rehabilitating the structure to keep it safe for travelers.

NYC DOT is proposing to rehabilitate BQE Central to address aging infrastructure, improve safety and reliability, and maintain this important connection for people and goods moving through Brooklyn and the region.

The project is preparing to enter the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) process. Through the CEQR process, NYC DOT will study the project's potential environmental effects and provide opportunities for public input.

Proposed Rehabilitation

NYC DOT is proposing to repair and strengthen the existing BQE Central structure. This work is called rehabilitation. NYC DOT will fix deteriorated parts of the structure, including repairs to the highway deck, walls, joints, and other structural elements. The rehabilitation project will also improve drainage, replace or upgrade railings, and improve lighting. The highway will remain two lanes and will not expand, nor will interchanges be altered.

To avoid traffic diverting to local streets during construction, NYC DOT expects to use temporary bypass structures in some locations. The two-level bypass required for Triple Cantilever rehabilitation would travel over Furman Street and be no higher than the existing Queens-bound level. North of Columbia Heights, the current design shows a Queens-bound bypass that will go over the existing BQE and the approach to the Brooklyn Bridge. These temporary structures would carry traffic while repair work is underway. NYC DOT continues to review alternate design options at this stage of the project. Regardless of the final design, these structures would be removed after construction is complete.

The proposed rehabilitation is intended to:

Improve safety and reliability
Extend the service life of BQE Central for 40 more years
Reduce the need for repeated interim repairs
Maintain connectivity off local streets for thousands of regional trips
Protect the Brooklyn Heights Promenade as part of the structure
Maintain the option for future reenvisioning of the full BQE corridor

Project Materials

NYC DOT prepared project materials to help the public understand the proposed project, why it is needed, and how to get involved:

BQE Central Project Overview (pdf): Provides a high-level overview of the project, the proposed rehabilitation, the project area, and what the public can expect as the project moves forward into construction.

Why is the City Rehabilitating BQE Central? (pdf): Explains why major repairs are needed, why NYC DOT is proposing rehabilitation, and how this work fits into longer-term planning for the BQE corridor.

How Can I Participate? (pdf): Explains the environmental review process, upcoming opportunities to learn more, and how the public can provide comments during CEQR.

BQE Central FAQ (pdf): Answers common questions about the proposed project, construction, temporary bypass structures, public benefits, and how to stay informed.

Upcoming Community Events

Before the formal CEQR public comment period begins, NYC DOT will host public information events to help community members learn more about the proposed rehabilitation and upcoming environmental review process.

These events are intended to share information and answer questions. Formal public comments on the environmental review will be accepted only during the CEQR public scoping period, which will begin later this fall. Review the Environmental Review and Public Input section below to learn more about providing formal comments.

Virtual Q&A Sessions

NYC DOT will host virtual Q&A sessions where members of the public can learn more about the proposed rehabilitation, the environmental review process, and upcoming opportunities to provide input.

Virtual Q&A #1

Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Time: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Registration: Link to be posted

Virtual Q&A #2

Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Registration: Link to be posted

Pop-Up Events

NYC DOT will also host in-person pop-up events where members of the public can review project materials and speak with project team members. Additional details will be posted as they become available.

Environmental Review and Public Input

NYC DOT is preparing to begin the CEQR process for the BQE Central Project. CEQR is New York City's environmental review process. It helps the City study how a proposed project could affect nearby communities and the environment.

As part of CEQR, NYC DOT will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS. The EIS will study topics such as construction, traffic, noise, air quality, parks and open space, historic resources, neighborhood character, and other potential effects.

The first formal public step will be public scoping. During the public scoping period, which will begin later this fall, the public can comment on what the EIS should study. Members of the public will be able to provide comments online and in writing. Instructions for online and written comments will be posted on this page when the scoping period begins.

Additionally, members of the public will be able to provide comments in-person by attending a Public Scoping Meeting. NYC DOT currently expects to hold two CEQR Public Scoping Meetings later this fall. Each meeting will be the same. Meeting details and registration information will also be posted on this page when the scoping period beings.

Public comments can help NYC DOT understand community concerns, identify issues that should be studied, and consider ways to mitigate potential impacts.

Agency Coordination

NYC DOT is leading the BQE Central Project and this CEQR process. As the project moves forward, NYC DOT will coordinate with other city and state agencies, including agencies responsible for parks, environmental protection, land use, and historic resources, and will seek other approvals that may be needed for the project.

NYC DOT will also continue to share information with elected officials, community boards, community organizations, and the public.

BQE Background

Map of the B Q E through Brooklyn with the B Q E Central portion from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street highlighted in gray

Built between 1937 and 1964, the BQE is Brooklyn's only interstate highway and plays a major role in moving people and goods locally and regionally. Approximately 130,000 vehicles use the BQE daily – 13,000 of them trucks, making this a vital freight corridor. The highway is integral to keeping these vehicles off local Brooklyn streets.

Both the City of New York and the State of New York own various sections of the BQE:

The City owns the approximately 1.5-mile section of the BQE from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street, known as BQE Central, that is the focus of this project. BQE Central includes the "Triple Cantilever" in Brooklyn Heights.

The State owns the rest of the 10.6 miles of BQE in Brooklyn that are outside of the scope of this project, including:

Areas in north and south Brooklyn where the highway is below street level (trenches)
Areas where the highway is on a structure above street level (viaducts)

From 2022 to 2024, NYC DOT led a community visioning process that included the State-owned sections that are outside of the BQE Central scope. Information on that effort can be found on the BQE Corridor Vision website.

On This Page