Eastern Parkway Loses Another Lane

Drivers on one of Brooklyn’s busiest arteries can expect to see more congestion as the Department of Transportation has painted over another lane on Eastern Parkway.

The right hand lane on the east-bound side has been painted over to make room for a designated turning lane, bringing down the total number of driving lanes to four – from its original six.

The left hand lane on the west-bound side was converted to a designated turning lane several years ago.

Empire Boulevard suffered a similar fate in 2009, with its four lanes reduced to only one in each direction for similar reasons.

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25 Comments

  • crazy

    another reason to move out of this crazy city

    these elected ones take our taxes and do as they wish instead of doing the wish of the people

  • DaasTorah

    This will encourage people to drive less and rely more on public transport/bicycle riding, etc.

  • Rdz

    I think that with empire blvd, it worked out very nicely. Traffic flows much nicer. Maybe it will be good on eastern parkway.

  • just me

    great idea – its needed even though it cuts into what we got used to.
    Think in long run.
    Also before everyone bashes this new move – overall it is SAFER to have a turning lane (right turns). Those right turns are extremely dangerous and this will make it safer.
    SO just move along and smile!

  • Bus Driver

    When they redid Empire blvd. I thought it was no good, turns out to be much better then before. It’s a matter of getting used to it.

    However I will advise the DOT that it’s past time they repaired Nostrand Ave.

    • dave

      Dear busdriver,
      Nostrand north of eastern parkway is currently being repaved. It’s a matter of time till they’ll get to ‘our’ part

  • Andrea Schonberger

    I think this kind of stuff is happening everywhere. In the Seattle/Tacoma WA area more bike lanes are being carved out sacrificing driving lanes. In Seattle, where parking is at a premium, restaurants want to annex about 4 parking spaces in front of their businesses and convert them into parklettes–al fresco dining areas. I think parking has a higher priority as the parklettes would only be used in warm weather.

  • In the know

    Traffic on Empire is only better because drivers avoid it like the plague, they’ve resorted to using side streets which have now become far less safe as a result. I live on one of those side streets, cars fly by my house at exceedingly higher speeds then they used to before the change. So, thanks but no thanks.

  • Stop treating us like children

    NY drivers are capable of moving out of a turning lane. You don’t need to remove an entire lane because vehicles are turning.

    This is just another move by Bloomberg to get people out of their cars.

    Just keep making people lives more difficult.

    I’m outa here.

  • Moishele

    More congestion? Have you seen Empire Blvd? Do you really believe it’s all a mad conspiracy to get us?

    Grow up, and while you’re at it, have a reality check. Which is an impatient way of saying calm down, it will be better than you think.

  • Mendy

    This will speed up the traffic actually by aligning cars into the lanes corresponding to their movement.

  • yontil

    soon NY will end up like Detroit has, where all the hardworking people have left in droves due to these and other nonsensical naarishkeit, where the only ones left are the crooks and the welfare crowd thus driving the city into bankruptcy!
    Coming soon to NYC!

  • Commando Bloomberg

    The traffic is horrendous on Eastern Parkway. Today 6 PM it was an 1/2 hour to get from Flatbush Ave. to Kingston Ave.

  • SS

    I can’t stand this change. Have you seen the traffic this is causing? My 20 minute drive is now 40 minutes. I hope the drivers on the road learn fast the new lane change and adapt to the new road so traffic will move more smoothly. smh

  • TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION

    THE PRESENT TRAFFIC COMMISSIONER WITH THE BLESSING OF THE MAYOR SEEMS TO HAVE ONE GOAL-ELIMINATING CARS, PERIOD. EVERY NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGE IS ILLOGICAL AND CAUSING CONGESTION, LONGER IDLING OF CARS, LONGER DRIVE TIMES, AND CONSEQUENTLY MORE POLLUTION. WHERE ARE OUR COMMUNITY BOARDS OR ARE THEY SIMPLY PATSIES IN PLACATING THE MAYOR. A GOOD PART OF OUR TAXES PAY FOR THE ROADS AND WE SHOULD HAVE A SAY. EASTERN PARKWAY WAS AN ALTERNATIVE AFTER THEY CREATED HAVOC TO EMPIRE BLVD. NOW OUR RESIDENTIAL STREETS WILL BE CONGESTED BY THE OVERFLOW TRYING TO CROSS FROM EAST TO WEST OR VICE VERSA. BORO PARK MADE THE CITY STAND DOWN WHEN THE CITY CREATED A NIGHTMARE ON FORT HAMILTON PARKWAY. WHY IS OUR COMMUNITY COUNCIL SILENT OR ARE THEY ALSO PATRONIZING CITY OFFICIALS.
    SD

  • I HATE IT!

    Eastern Parkway is now a horrible traffic congested road. Where are our “representatives” when we need them to stop the city from ruining the quality of our life?

  • Eastern Parkway Driver

    It wasn’t broke. There was no need to fix it. Before the change I never sat at an Eastern Parkway intersection with a GREEN light and couldn’t move because the entire block ahead of me was in line. With the change I did – and the righ lane was empty of course.

  • What Were They Thinking

    This was the worst idea ever. It has created so much traffic that I now have to avoid Eastern Parkway.