Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
BQE Will Be Under Construction Until The End Of Time
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Jan 5, 2012
Modified Jan 5, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Jan 5, 2012
Modified Jan 5, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Today in Maddening News Of The New Year, we learn that the much-maligned BQE will continue to be under construction pretty much forever, as it has been for all time. It's not exactly new news, but at least we get some historical context for the headache.
“The perception of the public that the road is always under construction is accurate,” said Denise M. Richardson, the executive director of the General Contractors Association of New York, whose members built and now fix the roads. “Because what happens is, we have to close a lane, fix the lane, open the lane, and repeat the cycle.” Yes, it's all a vicious cycle that will never end until the end of time, or when every tire on every truck, cab and car gets sacrificed to the angry gods of road conditions. And it won't be getting better anytime soon—the state is too broke to make any major changes (i.e., rebuilding busted-ass sections near Brooklyn Heights and Gowanus or installing tunnels), so they'll just make do with minor, temporary fixes over and over again, even if they end up costing more in the long run.
Some have given up hope altogether: Lucille Plotz, an 85-year-old Columbia Heights resident, is used to the rumbles from the BQE breaking things in her house, earthquake-style. “If it was properly maintained it wouldn’t be a bother," she said. "But now it’s beyond just maintenance."
Tagged
bqe
construction
dot
forever
road work
traffic
Jamie Feldmar
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
5 men charged with trespassing in 2 Manhattan manhole cases
Two people who were found soaking wet and smelling of sewage say they went underground to look for jewelry, according to police and a criminal complaint.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 7:49 p.m. ET
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.
By
Charles Lane
News
6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens
The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime
By
Carol Chen
Inside the Midtown Bus Terminal rebuild: Decks over Lincoln Tunnel approach, a new park
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Black couple seeking Queens apartment sues over racist text from broker
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .