NYC job alert: City seeks BQE czar to rebuild ramshackle triple-cantilever

The New York City Department of Transportation has posted a job listing for an assistant commissioner to lead the reconstruction of the aging 0.4-mile Brooklyn-Queens Expressway triple-cantilever. The role, described as a "BQE czar," carries a salary of up to $250,000 and requires navigating environmental reviews and community concerns for the section of highway between Atlantic Avenue and Sands Street.

Brooklyn Heights residents and the Department of Transportation have clashed for years over potential solutions, including a 2018 proposal to build a temporary roadway over the Promenade. While recent efforts have focused on short-term repairs and weight-limit enforcement for the 130,000 daily vehicles, the city has yet to commit to a permanent structural plan.

Community leaders, including the Brooklyn Heights Association, expressed hope that the new official will consider various alternatives, including tearing down the roadway entirely. The appointee will work under Transportation Commissioner Michael Flynn to address the structure, which officials previously warned could become unsafe for heavy traffic by 2026.

Summary by Dispatch AI — read the full story at Gothamist.