New traffic patterns of two Staten Island Expressway overpass bridges resulted in heavy traffic during the morning commute on Monday, Sept. 19. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The new traffic patterns on two Staten Island Expressway (SIE) overpass bridges resulted in dozens of disgruntled drivers during Monday morning’s commute.
On Monday, Staten Island drivers were faced with major traffic pattern changes, with the Bradley Avenue and Woolley Avenue overpasses having been reduced to two travel lanes and shifted to one-way vehicle traffic to accommodate the rehabilitation of the overpass bridges.
Under the new traffic patterns, which are expected to remain in place until early spring 2024, the Woolley Avenue overpass is only handling southbound traffic, while the Bradley Avenue overpass, located roughly a half-mile down the service road, is only handling northbound traffic.
New traffic patterns of two Staten Island Expressway overpass bridges resulted in heavy traffic during the morning commute on Monday, Sept. 19. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)
The change resulted in heavy traffic near the Bradley Avenue overpass on Monday morning, with multiple NYPD Traffic agents on scene to direct drivers, many of whom honked their horns and bemoaned the change.
“This is unbelievable!” one driver yelled out his window.
“Tell me about it!” a traffic agent replied.
Under the new configuration, cars heading northbound on Woolley Avenue are detoured right onto South Gannon Avenue, left over the Bradley Avenue overpass, and then left onto North Gannon Avenue.
Meanwhile, cars heading southbound on Bradley Avenue are detoured right onto North Gannon Avenue, left over the Woolley Avenue overpass, and then left onto South Gannon Avenue.
New traffic patterns of two Staten Island Expressway overpass bridges resulted in heavy traffic during the morning commute on Monday, Sept. 19. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)
With hundreds of vehicles attempting to reach the eastbound Bradley Avenue SIE entrance ramp, South Gannon Avenue was flooded with backed-up, detoured vehicles.
Upon realizing that they would be rerouted at the overpass, many cars heading southbound on Bradley Avenue made illegal K-turns to avoid the messy intersection, likely opting to find a more direct route to their destinations.
New traffic patterns of two Staten Island Expressway overpass bridges resulted in heavy traffic during the morning commute on Monday, Sept. 19. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)
The project, part of a $46 million investment to rehabilitate four SIE overpass bridges, includes structural repairs and the installation of new bridge decks, which are expected to increase the lifespan of the overpasses by 40 years and reduce the need for future maintenance work.
The rehabilitations will include replacements of the concrete bridge decks, as well the installation of new sidewalks and steel bearings at both overpasses.
The new bridge decks will use “link slabs” instead of traditional bridge joints, which are expected to reduce the amount of regularly scheduled maintenance required.
The structural steel beams and concrete on the pier columns and abutments will be repaired, with new pedestrian fencing set to be installed and the steel bridge railings replaced with concrete barriers.
The project will use Polyester Polymer Concrete (PPC), which provides waterproofing protection to the new concrete surfaces.
Utilities will be replaced along both overpass bridges, with new LED lighting installed underneath to improve late-night visibility on the expressway.
Additionally, the project will fully resurface affected intersections, add pavement markings and install new street lighting, accessible pedestrian signals and curb ramps.
New traffic patterns of two Staten Island Expressway overpass bridges resulted in heavy traffic during the morning commute on Monday, Sept. 19. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)
New traffic patterns of two Staten Island Expressway overpass bridges resulted in heavy traffic during the morning commute on Monday, Sept. 19. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)
New traffic patterns of two Staten Island Expressway overpass bridges resulted in heavy traffic during the morning commute on Monday, Sept. 19. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)
New traffic patterns of two Staten Island Expressway overpass bridges resulted in heavy traffic during the morning commute on Monday, Sept. 19. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)
New traffic patterns of two Staten Island Expressway overpass bridges resulted in heavy traffic during the morning commute on Monday, Sept. 19. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)
New traffic patterns of two Staten Island Expressway overpass bridges resulted in heavy traffic during the morning commute on Monday, Sept. 19. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)
New traffic patterns of two Staten Island Expressway overpass bridges resulted in heavy traffic during the morning commute on Monday, Sept. 19. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)
New traffic patterns of two Staten Island Expressway overpass bridges resulted in heavy traffic during the morning commute on Monday, Sept. 19. (Staten Island Advance/Erik Bascome)
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