City Delivers More Than Three Miles of New Sewers and Water Mains in Hollis and Queens Village
June 7, 2021
Project completed five months ahead of schedule and $2.7 million under budget
(Hollis, NY – June 7, 2021) The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced today that a $20.5 million project to improve street conditions, alleviate flooding and upgrade infrastructure in Hollis and Queens Village has been completed five months ahead of schedule. DEP and DOT provided funding for the project which began in March 2019, while DDC managed the construction.
“This $20 million investment in Hollis and Queens Village will immediately improve the quality of life for residents and businesses, and with another $1.7 billion earmarked for sewer and drainage upgrades across southeast Queens there are a lot more of these projects happening,” said DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “Thanks to our partners at DOT and kudos to the professionals at DDC who completed this project ahead of schedule and under budget!”
“This project, which were proud to complete months ahead of schedule, is part of the de Blasio Administration’s $1.9 billion commitment to comprehensively improve drainage and street conditions throughout southeast Queens,” said DDC Commissioner Jamie Torres-Springer. “The program is greatly improving the quality of life for residents and business owners and consists of 44 infrastructure projects overall, including 16 that have already been completed and 11 others that are currently in design.”
“This sewer and water main project, which will also upgrade the local streetscape with roadway repaving, new sidewalks, curb extensions, pedestrian ramps and bus pads, will improve the quality of life for everyone who lives and does business in Hollis and Queens Village,” said DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia. “We thank our partners at DDC and DEP, and all the local elected officials and community residents who helped us get this critical infrastructure investment across the finish line early and under budget.”
“These improvements are a significant investment in the future of Hollis and Queens Village, and their early completion greatly benefits the hard-working families of these vibrant neighborhoods,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “This work underscores the City’s strong commitment to alleviating chronic flooding and addressing the other chronic infrastructure problems in southeast Queens. Thank you to Commissioner Sapienza, Commissioner Torres-Springer and everyone at the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Design and Construction for your dedication to protecting our residents and their property from flooding and other hazards created by outdated and inferior infrastructure.”
“Many neighborhoods in our City are in desperate need of improved infrastructure especially in southeast Queens,” said Congress Member Gregory W. Meeks. “Thanks to the hard work from our City agencies, residents and business owners in Hollis and Queens Village will experience relief from the upgraded infrastructure in their neighborhoods.”
“As a homeowner in southeast Queens, I understand the anguish of local residents who experience constant flooding of their basements. Back in 2016, I worked with now Queens Borough President Donovan Richards to secure $1.9 billion in funding for flood remediation infrastructure, which includes an unprecedented online portal that provides oversight of the Initiative,” said Council Member I. Daneek Miller. “Thanks in part to our advocacy and the cooperation of local residents, I am pleased that this project has been completed under budget and ahead of schedule. We look forward to the continued work to end the tremendous suffering many homeowners have had to endure over the past several decades.”
“The enhancements completed on sewer and street infrastructure in Queens Village and Hollis are already making a positive difference in the lives of my constituents who live and work in the area," said State Senator Leroy Comrie. “I commend DDC, DOT, and DEP for working collaboratively to get this significant project completed under budget and ahead of schedule.”
The project is part of a $1.9 billion investment by the de Blasio Administration to build a comprehensive drainage system, improve street conditions and alleviate flooding in neighborhoods throughout southeast Queens. The program, the largest of its kind, consists of 44 projects overall, including 16 that are substantially completed and five that are in active construction.
Work occurred on 20 individual blocks. More than one mile (7,090 feet) of water mains, some of which were installed before World War II were replaced, and an additional 525 feet of new water mains were added, with pipes ranging from 6 to 20 inches in diameter. Fire protection was enhanced with the replacement of 18 fire hydrants and installation of four new fire hydrants. Two bollards were placed in front of each fire hydrant to protect them from vehicle damage.
A total of 2,255 feet of storm sewers were added to the neighborhoods, plus 1,240 feet of existing storm sewers were replaced, ranging in size from 12 inches in diameter up to 45 inches by 29 inches. To better capture stormwater and direct it to the new storm sewers, 18 new catch basins were installed and 40 old ones were replaced. More than one mile (6,035 feet) of sanitary sewers ranging from 8 to 10 inches in diameter were replaced and 480 feet of new sanitary sewers ranging from 10 to 15 inches in diameter was installed. Two new underground chambers were installed to increase the holding capacity of sewer discharge and stormwater runoff in the neighborhood. Access to the sewers was enhanced with the installation of 25 new manholes and the replacement of 64 manholes.
As part of the final street restoration, 30,055 square yards of new asphalt was laid down over a new concrete base, and 4,610 feet of curbs and 20,640 feet of sidewalks were reconstructed. The new curbs and sidewalks were leveled to help guide stormwater to the area’s new catch basins and to ensure adequate drainage during storms. Pedestrian safety was improved at the northwest and northeast corners of Hollis Avenue and Francis Lewis Boulevard with the installation of two curb extensions to shorten the distance for pedestrians to cross the cross the street. A new 300-foot bus pad on 204th Street between Hollis Avenue and 111th Avenue was installed, and two old ones were replaced on Francis Lewis Boulevard between 110th Avenue and 112th Avenue.
Compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) was improved with the replacement of 33 pedestrian ramps.
About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $14 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.
About the NYC Department of Environmental Protection
DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to more than 9 million residents, including 8.3 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $20.1 billion in investments over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
About the NYC Department of Transportation
NYC DOT’s mission is to provide for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods, and to maintain and enhance the transportation infrastructure crucial to the economic vitality and quality of life of New York City residents. More than 5,000 DOT employees oversee one of the most complex urban transportation networks in the world, managing 6,000 miles of streets and highways, 12,000 miles of sidewalk, and 794 bridges and tunnels, including the iconic East River bridges. Our staff also installs and maintains more than one million street signs, 12,000 signalized intersections, 315,000 street lights, and 200 million linear feet of street markings. DOT promotes the use of sustainable modes of transportation, designing bicycle facilities, bus lanes, and public plazas. DOT also operates the Staten Island Ferry, which serves over 22 million people annually.