Sunday, September 23, 2012

Roosevelt Island Main Street Road Construction Safety Concerns From Resident and Response From RIOC


You Tube Video of Main Street Reconstruction Project

Roosevelt Island resident Raye Schwartz expresses concern over safety issues surrounding the Main Street Reconstruction Project and shares this message she sent to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra and Vice President of Operations Fernando Martinez last Friday.
This morning while I was baby sitting I needed to get something from Gristedes. I walked up Main Street past PS217 and found that I could not cross, so I turned around and walked south. I was going to use the crosswalk near Westview and The Child School, but found that I could not see the southbound traffic unless I actually walked into the street. That's because the line of sight was completely obstructed by huge trucks parked all the way from 217 and double parked at Westview.

I was not about to do that and endanger my grand daughter in her stroller. Further, there was so much traffic coming from the bridge that it was clear to me that even if I got across the street safely I would face another dangerous situation crossing at the bottom of the helix ramp.

I finally walked to the RIOC office and asked Carlina to notify you about this situation. FYI, there were two other people with strollers who were in the same predicament as well as an elderly wheelchair bound woman who was so frustrated that she was nearly in tears.

Further, this coming week is sure to be a nightmare because of bridge closings related to the UN general assembly meeting.

Based on these situations it is clear to me that there must be a public safety presence on foot at that area, not just periodic patrols in cars. That presence must be maintained throughout the repaving project. I am making this known to you because I fear that there can and possibly will be one or more serious accidents in that area without some kind of officer presence. Please do everything possible to make certain that pedestrians as well as school children are protected throughout this construction, that the lines of sight at crosswalks are not blocked, and some signage placed letting people know where they can cross safely.

Thanks in advance.
RIOC Director Margie Smith responded to Ms. Schwartz:
Thanks for the note. I’ll speak with Fernando and be sure there aren’t any unsafe conditions during the project work.
Mr. Guerra responded as well:
Thank you for the email. We at RIOC are trying to do the best we can under the circumstances. Street construction projects always pose issues, but rest assured that four different departments are working collectively to be on top of it. The Construction Company is mandated to have Flag-Personnel assisting with traffic flow during construction hours. Our Engineering and Transportation Departments are out there making sure they conform to the agreement. Our Community Relations Specialist is in constant contact with the administrators of P.S. 217 to remind folks about the traffic condition. The Public Safety Department is in the process of setting up a special detail, beginning Monday, to assist with traffic flow in front of P.S. 217 during morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-ups, as well as on Main Street. Hopefully, it will be better next week.

Regards,

KG

As an aside, our Officers on Patrol did observe two Delivery Trucks double-parked in front of Westview, and issued them summonses.
More on Main Street Reconstruction project from previous post.

10 comments :

Mark Lyon said...

I still don't understand why we're filling the moat with water. I mentioned the constantly running hose to a PSD officer, but nothing was done.

Anonymous said...

And what is PSD supposed to do about it mark? I asked an officer yesterday and he stated it was left on,on purpose by the construction company.

From what I know,PSD isn't trained in road construction.

YetAnotherRIer said...

"Roosevelt Island resident Raye Schwartz expresses concern over safety issues surrounding the Main Street Reconstruction Project [...]"


Can somebody try to explain this to me? I live in Manhattan Park and I have to look after children as well (my children, that is). We did go to Gristedes and had to cross the street for other reasons as well. I never perceived the current situation as hazardous. It is inconvenient, yes, but as long as you use any cross walk south of 10 River Road or at 40 River Road it is very easy to cross the street (and not any more dangerous as before). I guess my safety threshold is set very low and I don't feel threatened as quickly as others? I've been noticing this at other occasions on this blog.


Also, about the water for curing the concrete at the River Road egress: the water has been contained pretty much within the cordoned off construction zone. It would only make somebody wade through a moat if you crossed the street illegally, i.e. didn't obey the yellow tape. I assume they are trying to cure it faster so they can reopen River Road asap? Not sure because I know zilch about street construction.

Raye Glick Schwartz said...

You were able to cross north of 2 River Road and may have seen the construction starting. I hadn't been up that way before and had no notice about not being able to cross there. Further, on that day there were so many huge trucks and so much traffic coming off the bridge that it was impossible to get a handle on where we could safely cross.

Jon said...

I agree with Mark - always nice to see new methods being implemented!
-Jon @ construction site safety

deetelecare said...

Now the bus stop has again been obliterated and relocated God only knows where, and the nearest crossing for those at 10/20 RR heading to the Gristedes is a block down or up. Everything is torn up and traffic is nearly at a standstill.


BTW there have been no complaints that the Sainted Z-Brick was being replaced by black macadam, not even concrete. Ah, because it is in front of Manhattan Park (which to a proper old-time RI-er, doesn't exist), not a WIRE building!

Frank Farance said...

I've seen spray water used for curing concrete in many places, including the reconstruction of the roadways on the Queensboro Bridge (1980's, 1990's). I know you love these kinds of tidbits, so here's an excerpt on concrete curing, and the full link to the page:

[Begin excerpt ...]
Definition: Curing can be described as keeping the concrete moist and warm enough so that the hydration of cement can continue. More elaborately, it can be described as the process of maintaining a satisfactory moisture content and a favorable temperature in concrete during the period immediately following placement, so that hydration of cement may continue until the desired properties are developed to a sufficient degree to meet the requirement of service.

If curing is neglected in the early period of hydration, the quality of concrete will experience a sort of irreparable loss. An efficient curing in the early period of hydration can be compared to a good and wholesome feeding given to a new born baby.

Methods of Curing Concrete

Concrete curing methods may be divided broadly into four categories:

- Water curing
- Membrane curing
- Application of heat
- Miscellaneous

[End of excerpt, see full page at "http://www.aboutcivil.org/curing-of-concrete-types-methods.html"]

cdm coordinator said...

The government never thinks about public safety and the inconvenience that might happen during these kind of situations.

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