By Kathianne Boniello
The 111th Police Precinct in Bayside has put out an alert for northeast Queens drivers to be more careful around the maze of construction sites that have sprung up around the precinct.
Community Affairs Officer Anthony Lombardi said last week that while the precinct does not have statistics on hand, it has noticed a significant increase in the number of minor accidents near construction sites for about a month.
There are two major construction projects going on within the borders of the 111th Precinct, including the reshaping of the interchange between the Long Island Expressway and the Cross Island Parkway and the rebuilding of entrance/exit ramps between the LIE and the Clearview Expressways.
A third construction project planned for northeast Queens — the Oakland Ravine Project — includes extensive sewer work in and around the area of Queensborough Community College, through the intersection of the Cross Island and Northern Boulevard and up to Alley Pond. The start of the Oakland Ravine Project has been delayed by the effects of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The 111th Precinct includes the communities of Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston, Oakland Gardens, Hollis Hills and parts of Flushing and Auburndale.
Lombardi said “people need to be a little more careful when traveling past these construction sites.”
The nature of the accidents, Lombardi said, appears to be minor, including fender benders and incidents involving vehicles side swiping each other.
The project with the most impact on local drivers seems to have been the LIE/Cross Island Parkway construction, which includes the rebuilding of at least three major LIE overpasses.
Work at Little Neck, Marathon and Douglaston parkways over the LIE has eliminated some turning lanes, squeezed vehicles into smaller lanes and caused driving delays around the neighborhoods of Little Neck and Douglaston.
Lombardi said the congestion caused by the roadwork appears to be a factor behind the increased number of accidents.
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
