Work Finally Begins Today On Delayed Emergency Access Road For NYC Environmental Protection Department Water Tunnel #3 Construction Site Near Roosevelt Island Octagon Building

As reported August 14:

A Roosevelt Island Octagon Building resident asked when the NYC Department of Environmental Protection

access road project

will be completed:

Can you by chance let us know when this construction will take place?

It’s by the Octagon by the bbq pits. It was supposed to be an access road. We cannot get any info from the building or RIOC. There are no signs. No permits, nothing. Work was supposed to be complete by May...

Another Octagon resident added:

... 50% of those nice new BBQs and Picnic tables in the Octagon Park are getting removed (supposedly relocated) to make way for an “emergency access road” to the Water Tunnel facility....

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Information Officer provides an update:

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will restart construction Monday, Aug. 27 for an emergency access road to the DEP Roosevelt Island site that will be used for emergency responses only. The project was originally slated to begin in April, but encountered contracting delays.

The road will be grass paved and is intended to blend with the existing Octagon building campus. This work is in conjunction with City Water Tunnel No. 3.

When Will Work Take Place?
Work will resume on Monday, August 27 and is anticipated to be completed by mid-October. Work hours are Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM.

What Is the Anticipated Community Impact?
DEP will be working closely with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, several small shrub trees adjacent to the Octagon, as well as some picnic area furniture (tables and barbecue grills) will be relocated or replaced nearby to clear space for the additional access road.

The Sabrina statue has been cautiously moved out of the access road path.

What will be the protection?
Chain link fence with privacy screening has been installed around the access road work for public safety. Clear signage has been placed along the fencing, providing construction information and pedestrian detour direction.

For additional information on this project, please contact the NYC Department of Environmental Protection: Humberto Galarza, NYC DEP Bureau of Public Affairs & Communications, (o) (718)-595-3504, (e) hgalarza@dep.nyc.gov.