On May 1, 2024, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Design and Construction announced the completion of a $9 million infrastructure upgrade project in Rego Park and Forest Hills in Queens. The upgrades were made to ensure the long-term reliability of water service.
Nearly four miles of water mains received upgrades; old cast iron mains were upgraded to new pipes made of ductile iron, which is more durable. Approximately 900 square feet of porous pavement was installed to improve street drainage. Nearly 800 feet of curb were replaced, and over 5,000 square feet of sidewalk were upgraded. For safety improvements, 63 fire hydrants were upgraded and nine new hydrants were installed.
The project concluded approximately six months ahead of schedule and cost 39 percent under the original $15 million budget. The project began in September 2022 and was done through joint bidding, which allows all of the City’s work and connected private utility work to be bundled in one contract. The Department of Design and Construction manages the contracts, and the agency estimated that over $100 million was saved per year from the use of joint bidding.
DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala stated, “Upgrading water mains is a key component of DEP’s ongoing efforts to improve and maintain the city’s water supply infrastructure. The mains that were targeted for upgrades in Forest Hills and Rego Park were installed between 1924 and 1950 and had outlived their usefulness. Thanks to our partnership with DDC, we can ensure that residents of these neighborhoods will continue to have reliable water service for many years to come.”
Council Member Lynn Schulman stated, “Today marks an important community milestone as DDC and DEP celebrate the successful completion of a $9 million water main project in Rego Park and Forest Hills, reaffirming our commitment to enhancing our neighborhoods and improving lives. This project directly benefits residents in my district, improving long-term water service reliability in Queens neighborhoods by replacing 3.6 miles of century-old water mains. It’s a much-needed improvement that meets the pressing needs of our community.”
By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the Editor of CityLand and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)