Governor Hochul Announces Completion of Major Work on the Transformative Van Wyck Expressway Project

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the substantial completion of main line work on the transformational $1.4 billion Van Wyck Expressway Project with the opening of new managed-use lanes for taxis and high-occupancy vehicles in both directions between the Kew Gardens Interchange and Atlantic Avenue and John F. Kennedy International Airport. A centerpiece of the project, the managed-use lanes will provide speedier trips to and from the airport for taxis and other multi-person vehicles, thereby encouraging their use and reducing congestion along the main line highway. The new lanes, which opened Friday morning, are one of several new features and safety enhancements added to the Van Wyck Expressway as part of the project, which will be considered fully complete once work to rehabilitate nearby service roads is finished later this year.

"Navigating the Van Wyck Expressway to get to and from JFK has all too often been a test of endurance for motorists regardless of the time of day, but that all changes now," Governor Hochul said. "For years, commuters have navigated seemingly endless construction and delays along this critical artery, but today, with the conclusion of major work, New York enters a new era of faster, safer travel on the Van Wyck. These new lanes for high-occupancy vehicles are among several enhancements that will remove the headaches that have long been associated with travel on this busy highway and help ensure that travelers headed to and from JFK get where they need to go hassle-free."

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, "The Van Wyck Expressway is a vital link that connects New York City to JFK Airport - and by extension the rest of the world - and it has long been in need of a substantial investment to alleviate traffic and provide better access to the airport and surrounding communities. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, we have been working full speed ahead to transform this highway and the results are tangible, which means safer travel, more resiliency against flooding and extreme weather, less congestion and fewer trucks on local streets."

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said, "There is no artery in Queens more vital - and historically no worse traffic nightmare for drivers - than the Van Wyck Expressway. It is impossible to overstate just how transformative the completion of our $1.4 billion overhaul of the Van Wyck is for countless Queens commuters and for the tens of millions of travelers who fly in and out of JFK Airport each year. To our partners at state DOT, thank you for your years of hard work and dedication to get this critical project over the finish line. And to our Queens neighbors who doubted they would ever see the day where the Van Wyck was traffic- and construction-free, that day is finally here."

NYC Councilmember Ty Hankerson said, "For anyone who has spent time sitting in traffic on the Van Wyck, you know just how long overdue these improvements are. The Van Wyck is one of the busiest corridors in Queens, and for many of us, it's a road we know all too well. Whether you're heading to work, getting home to your family, or trying to catch a flight out of JFK, that traffic has been a headache for far too long. Our communities have endured years of congestion and construction to get to this point, and I am glad we are finally seeing the benefits of that investment. I want to thank Governor Hochul and the State Department of Transportation for seeing this project through. I look forward to seeing these improvements translate into shorter commutes and some much-needed relief for Southeast Queens."

Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi said, "This is one of the busiest transportation corridors for drivers in Queens with thousands of New Yorkers using this stretch of the Van Wyck every day. This is a huge step forward to reduce congestion, improve safety, and make a better traveling experience. Many thanks to Governor Hochul and the Department of Transportation for their continued investment in our borough."

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, "Investing in infrastructure, especially in and around New York City, is critical to connecting communities, boosting our economy, and improving quality of life. This $1.4 billion investment into the Van Wyck Expressway is a win for all New Yorkers, especially travelers headed to and from JFK. In the Senate, I will continue fighting to deliver more federal dollars to modernize New York's aging roads and highways so New Yorkers can get where they need to go."

The Van Wyck Expressway's new managed-use lanes will effectively operate as high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. They will be open to private vehicles, taxis and for-hire vehicles with a driver and at least one passenger. The lanes will also be open to buses.

Overseen by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the Van Wyck Expressway modernization is one of the most complex projects ever undertaken by the state and has re-worked the entire corridor between John F. Kennedy International Airport and the Kew Gardens Interchange in Queens to enhance safety, provide better vehicle flow and reduce congestion on the surrounding local street network. In addition to new managed-use lanes, the highway geometry was also reconfigured to provide longer entrance and exit ramps that prevent queueing on the highway and reduce weaving. Additionally, drainage systems were upgraded to bolster resiliency to severe weather and state-of-the art traffic management technology was installed.

Work kicked off in early 2020 with the replacement of the Long Island Rail Road Atlantic 6 bridge over the Van Wyck Expressway. Work also began that year on the multi-phase project to transform the 4.3-mile section of the Van Wyck Expressway in both directions between John F. Kennedy International Airport and the Kew Gardens Interchange in Queens, which has been undertaken in three phases.

The $342 million first phase, which was completed in 2023, rehabilitated or replaced nine overpasses that carry traffic over the expressway, extending their lifespan and creating enough space beneath the structures for the managed-use lanes. The $318 million second phase, which began in 2021, has replaced and improved four bridges carrying the Long Island Rail Road Main Line and the Atlantic and Montauk branches over the Expressway near Jamaica Station. Signal equipment, power infrastructure and drainage systems on the approaches to the new bridges were also replaced as part of this phase. The Atlantic Avenue bridge was also replaced, and the northbound and southbound Expressway service roads between Archer Avenue and Atlantic Avenue were reconstructed.

The $804 million third phase included the construction of the managed-use lanes and the replacement, rehabilitation or construction of 10 bridges that span the Van Wyck or carry the expressway over another roadway. Additionally, several exit and entrance ramps are being reconfigured to enhance safety and the area sewer system upgraded to better handle stormwater runoff and help prevent flooding in neighborhoods throughout southeast Queens. The drainage improvements included a $135 million, double-barrel sewer segment built in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, to address the chronic flooding problem experienced in southeast Queens.

Bridges rehabilitated or replaced as part of phase three include:

• The northernmost Van Wyck Expressway bridge over Federal Circle
• The northbound Van Wyck Expressway bridge over the southbound Exit 1/1E Ramp
• The Nassau Expressway bridge over the Van Wyck Expressway
• The southbound and northbound Van Wyck Expressway bridges over South Conduit Avenue, the Belt Parkway, and North Conduit Avenue
• The 86th Avenue Pedestrian Bridge
• The southbound Van Wyck Expressway bridge over southbound Main Street

In total, the project rehabilitated or replaced 23 bridges. Additionally, a new bridge has been constructed to carry the Van Wyck Expressway's southbound Managed-Use Lane (MUL) over the Exit 1/1E ramp.

The Van Wyck Expressway Project builds on earlier work by NYSDOT to reduce congestion and improve access to John F. Kennedy Airport along the entire corridor, including the Long Island Expressway, the Grand Central Parkway, the $739 million modernization of the Kew Gardens Interchange, which was completed in December of 2022, and a $124 million project that rehabilitated a key viaduct along the Van Wyck Expressway between 57th Avenue and the Long Island Rail Road in Queens, which was completed in February of 2024.

State Senator James Sanders Jr. said, "The completion of this major work on the Van Wyck Expressway is a monumental win for the residents and businesses of South Ozone Park. For years, our community has dealt with severe gridlock and the spillover traffic that clogs our neighborhood streets. My hope is that these new HOV lanes will provide faster, more reliable travel to JFK Airport, encourage public transit, and significantly ease congestion along this vital Queens corridor. I am glad to see this historic investment deliver real relief, safer roads, and a better quality of life directly to our neighborhood, and I thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to modernizing our infrastructure."

Assemblymember Nily Rozic said, "The Van Wyck Expressway is a critical transportation artery for Queens residents, commuters and travelers alike. The opening of these new managed-use lanes is an important step toward easing brutal congestion, improving travel times and making our roads more efficient. I commend Governor Kathy Hochul for advancing this major investment in Queens' infrastructure and delivering meaningful, real improvements for our communities."

Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson said, "For years, the Van Wyck Expressway has been a constant source of frustration and a frequent topic of conversation throughout Southeast Queens. The opening of these new managed-use lanes is a significant step toward easing the congestion that residents and commuters experience every day. As this project continues to move toward completion, these additional lanes will help improve traffic flow, shorten travel times, and provide another much-needed option for reaching JFK Airport."

Assemblymember Sam Berger said, "Never stop working on yourself.' For many Queens residents, the Van Wyck Expressway seems to have taken that advice to heart. All kidding aside, the opening of these new lanes marks an important milestone for Queens and the many drivers who rely on this critical roadway. Modernizing the Van Wyck is no small undertaking, and I commend Governor Hochul and NYSDOT for moving this project forward. Here's to continued progress and smoother commutes for Queens drivers!"

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