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Bleary-Eyed In Brooklyn Heights: BK Bridge Rehab Keeping Residents Awake
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Apr 21, 2012
Modified Apr 21, 2012
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Apr 21, 2012
Modified Apr 21, 2012
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Whether or not you're out enjoying this fine spring afternoon or in your bedroom praying for sleep may depend on how close you live to "INSANE night drilling" at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. A tipster who lives on Cadman Plaza West tells us that despite their soundproof windows, the jackhammering that begins at midnight and lasts until at least 3 a.m. remains a form of "noise torture" that prevents them from sleeping. What's worse is that the DOT can't start drilling until 11 p.m. at night, when their permit kicks in, and that all noise ordinances are being obeyed.
The tipster sent us an email exchange they had with the community outreach coordinator for the Brooklyn Bridge Rehabilitation project, Sabrina Lau. According to Lau, the DEP oversees the noise regulations and the BBR project requires what's called an Alternate Noise Mitigation Plan.
An Alternate Noise Mitigation Plan, which applies to projects that must be conducted after hours, doesn't stipulate a specific decibel level to adhere to, but rather that best practice noise mitigation must be in place. As such, the project has not received a noise violation on either side of the Bridge.
Here's what an Alternate Noise Mitigation Plan sounds like at 1:40 a.m.
Lau also notes in the email exchange that the actual drilling hasn't even started: "The noise you have been hearing comes from test pits only, which are used during the design phase of the demolition work that is still upcoming."
To be fair, Lau says she's apprising her superiors of the complaints:
I understand that the situation is still untenable for many residents. The best I can do as a community liaison is to keep you as updated as I can on the work progress and hours we are working. I am also bringing your concerns back up the chain to DOT.
Per the project's website, on the Brooklyn side the DOT's goal is to create two lanes of free-flowing traffic at the Cadman Plaza exit, create additional overhead clearance at the York Street arch over the BQE and replace the road surface on all approach roadways. Work is expected to continue through 2014.
For more on ANMPs and the city's noise code, check out the letter of the law. And here's a brochure that details the latest progress on the project [pdf]. We'll leave you with the tipster's late-night email to Lau, which is kind of poetic, in a cracked-out sort of way.
From my point, it's just so sadistic to be sitting here in bed at 1am ..again. Emailing about this ..again. I mean, imagine if you had to go to sleep at night to endless jackhammers. Jackhammers til 3am. Loud. Every night. Imagine the lack of sleep. Imagine someone telling you this is just the start. Imagine someone saying the noise level is fine by city standards. What would you do?
Tagged
brooklyn bridge rehabilitation
brooklyn heights
dep
dot
dumbo
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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