From Atlantic Yards Watch: the absurdity of two closed sidewalks, with one stating "Sidewalk Closed. Use Other Side."

OK, there's a block party today, but let's not forget what it's like for neighbors of the Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park project.

As noted in a post on Atlantic Yards Watch yesterday, despite a lack of a community notice, for 24 days there's been natural gas infrastructure work at Dean Street and Sixth Avenue, servicing the 461 Dean Street (aka B2) modular building:

total sidewalk closures with no flaggers, dump truck idling for hours, vehicles including tractor block NYFD egress by parking tractor in fire lane on NE corner of Dean & 6th Ave. Posted no current information on project permits number etc. I asked for site supervisor & was told there is no one. The additional congestion is created because NationalGrid placed their construction materials on the SE corner of Pacific St & 6th Ave & now 670 Pacific St [another, unrelated project] has no area to temporary unload trucks.

A construction vehicle idling on Dean just east of Sixth



As noted on AYW:

idling for over 4:30. When the driver was told by another B3 construction worker I was videotaping, he drove off with another B3 dump truck using Dean St, a residential street that is not designed as a truck route.

The absurdity of sending people to a closed sidewalk

Workers posted a sign on the east side of Sixth Avenue between Dean and Pacific streets stating "Sidewalk Closed. Use Other Side." Except the other side is totally walled off, already by Forest City Ratner's B2 project.



As noted on AYW:

sidewalk closed & posted sign directed peds to use other side EXCEPT there is NO SIDEWALK on the west side of 6th Ave between Dean & Pacific because it is walled off & closed & used by B3 construction activities. & again when construction worker noticed I was videotaping he tried to help woman with baby pram.

The sidewalk, looking south from Pacific Steet



NationalGrid's message

FROM National Grid: Renee McClure

Project Scope:
Installing new high pressure gas main in order to supply gas to new construction project at 461 Dean St. Installation will be on in the street, on sidewalk or combination of both depending on existing underground utilities.
Streets Impacted:
Pacific St (at intersection of 6 Ave).
6th Ave (Pacific St to Dean St)
Dean St (From 6th Ave, almost 3/4 of the block to the new bldg at 461 Dean St ).
Hallen is the Contractor doing the work for Nationalgrid.
Time frame: The contractor is scheduled to be onsite until 9/5/2015
Thanks
Renee McClure