Kew Gardens Interchange Infrastructure & Operational Improvements

Services:
- Independent construction inspection
- Quality control
Relevance:
- Addressing safety and operational deficiencies in Kew Gardens, Queens
Construction Value:
- $366 Million

Project Overview

Role: Quality Control Services

M&J Engineering D.P.C. (M&J), as part of a team, performed independent construction inspection services for quality control of this design-build project which addressed safety and operational deficiencies. The reconstruction work included traffic movement along the Grand Central Parkway (GCP), Van Wyck Expressway (VWE), Jackie Robinson Parkway (JRP), and the connecting ramps between these roadways and Union Turnpike. The improvements eliminated stop conditions from on-ramps, mitigated weaving conditions between adjacent roadways, and improved vertical clearance and stopping sight distance. This project realigned and widened the mainline GCP, JRP, and Union Turnpike to address non-standard travel lane and shoulder widths; sight stopping distances; and drainage deficiencies; and eliminated three existing stop conditions. There were six total bridge replacements, a new ITS system, traffic signals, highway lighting and signage, and a shared use bike/pedestrian path to eliminate crossing at the ramps at Union
Turnpike/GCP/VWE. The new ramp locations improved or eliminated non-conforming and non-standard features of the interchange, including lane and shoulder widths, horizontal and vertical geometry, acceleration and deceleration lengths, and weave lengths.

The connection ramps from eastbound GCP to westbound JRP, from eastbound JRP to westbound GCP, and from westbound Union Turnpike to westbound GCP eliminated the stop conditions at the ends of these ramps. Improved acceleration and deceleration lanes were provided at these ramps and horizontal/vertical geometry improved for better stopping sight distance. An improved pedestrian crosswalk with a refuge island was provided near the eastbound Union Turnpike bridge for pedestrians crossing the GCP service road and the eastbound Union Turnpike onramp to eastbound GCP. The roadway geometric improvements also included modifications to all other roadway alignment and connections to accommodate the safety and operational improvements throughout the Kew Garden Interchange.

The project included $4.5 million landscaping services such as tree removal, tree protection and monitoring, soil remediation, and the development and implementation of a Landscape Development Plan (LDP); care of planting; responsibility for the maintenance and monitoring of all areas landscaped and planted until final acceptance; and post planting care and replacement; all in accordance with NYSDOT specifications.

The project was awarded the ASHE New York Metro 2021 Project of the Year and the ASCE Construction Achievement Project of the Year and was honored for Quality Control by the Municipal Engineers of the City of New York.

Kew Gardens Interchange Infrastructure & Operational Improvements

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