Around B3, photos show pedestrians pushed into street with no safeguards, questionable sidewalk closure, easier path for trucks

Imagine if the Democratic National Convention were being held at the Barclays Center? On top of creating a frozen zone that would impact blocks of retail businesses and residences, they surely would have had to shut down Pacific Park construction.

After all, as these Instagram posts showing conditions on 7/18/16 around the 38 Sixth Avenue (B3) site remind us, it's dicey just for locals. That building is flush to the Barclays Center.

Sidewalks on both sides of Dean Street between Flatbush and Sixth avenues were closed, with unhelpful signage--seemingly ad hoc--and no intervention by pedestrian managers, forcing pedestrians into the street, with no protected area.

The sidewalk was closed, workers said, because pedestrians were still in danger from debris falling from the building under construction, but those workers nonetheless took breaks, without helmets, in that area. (Were they just creating a private zone?)

Consider: if there'd been a convention, and construction shut down, the sidewalk still might have had to close.

The final photo shows that the exit from the B3 site should allow trucks to exit down Sixth Avenue to Flatbush Avenue rather than use residential Dean Street, which was approved last year as an alternative. (Trucks are supposed to go the shortest distance to a truck route.) Why no further evaluation?

The frequent clusterf#$k on Dean Street between 6th and Flatbush Avenues was in full bloom on Monday, July 18th at 9:30 AM. The sidewalks on both sides of the street were closed, forcing pedestrians into the street. Take a good look at this photo of an elderly gentleman walking against traffic in the travel lane. The signage was confusing, placed in useless spots, or non existent depending on the pedestrian's route. Sam Schwartz pedestrian managers clearly have a scope of work that doesn't include this because they were standing nearby. More photos to come. This is the first post of 3. @GridlockSam @nypd78thpcc @nyc_dot @nyc311 @nycmayorsoffice #bciza #pacificparkbk @pacificparkbk @hdr_inc @STVGroup @matrixneworld @EmpireStateDev

A photo posted by @pplegacy on Jul 20, 2016 at 6:47pm PDT

Besides being illegible this sign is placed mid-block. What's a pedestrian to do but walk in the travel lane? No flaggers. No escorts. No protected area for pedestrians. That's B3 construction workers taking a break in the closed sidewalk area. (Note no construction hats and therefore no identification stickers.) This post is part 2 of 3. @nyc_dot @nycmayorsoffice @nypd78thpct @hdr_inc @STVGroup @EmpireStateDev @matrixnewworld @atlanticyards_pacificpk_report @barclayscenter

A photo posted by @pplegacy on Jul 20, 2016 at 7:01pm PDT

I asked these workers why this section of sidewalk is closed and they said it was because things were falling from above and it isn't safe for pedestrians. I asked if the sidewalk shed wasn't for that, and they said small things can fall through the cracks. Obviously they weren't too concerned because they were taking a break in the area without wearing helmets. Likewise they were forcing pedestrians to walk in moving traffic outside of the protection offered by the sidewalk shed. 3rd post of 3. @nyc_dot @nycmayorsoffice @nyc_dot @nyc311 @nyc_buildings #bciza #pacificparkbk @hdr_inc @STVGroup @tishmanbuilds @EmpireStateDev @atlanticyards_pacificpk_report

A photo posted by @pplegacy on Jul 20, 2016 at 7:12pm PDT

Concrete truck barreling down Dean Street between Carlton and Vanderbilt from B3 on Monday, July 18th at 9:26 AM. Lower photo is the truck exit at B3 at 9:30 AM the same day. That photo is from 6th Avenue looking north into the construction site. We've been told there is a turn somewhere that it is difficult for trucks to make, and that is why DOT allows B3 contractors to step outside DOT truck route regulations. This has been going on for at least a year without a clear explanation why it is necessary. We've heard it is because a turn is too sharp for the trucks to make. Originally we were told it was this one out of the construction site, but the photo shows these concrete trucks could drive south on 6th (and conform to DOT regulations) without a problem. In fact I haven't seen a single circumstance in a year in which 6th Avenue couldn't have been used. Can someone once and for all say what the specific problem is? Why can't the State, the developer or NYC DOT answer a straightforward question in a straightforward way? I guess kicking the ball down the road almost always pays off. #bciza #pacificparkbk @pacificparkbk @nycmayorsoffice @nyc_dot @nypd78thpcc @hdr_inc @STVGroup @atlanticyards_pacificpk_report @matrixneworld @nyc311

A photo posted by @pplegacy on Jul 20, 2016 at 12:07pm PDT