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Officials Unveil Pedestrian Safety Improvements Near Barclays Center

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New safety pedestrian improvements have come to a dangerous intersection near Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The junction of Atlantic, Washington and Underhill avenues has been the scene of numerous accidents.

"When those three streets come together, it creates an awkward situation," Ryan Russo, the city Department of Transportation's deputy commissioner of transportation management, said at a news conference Monday.

Officials Unveil Pedestrian Safety Improvements Near Barclays Center

"Pedestrians did not feel safe, and unfortunately we had incidents where pedestrians were not safe, where they were hit," Russo added.

The city has expanded pedestrian islands, restricted some vehicle turns and increased the time given to cross the streets, WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported. The improvements are part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's "Vision Zero" safety initiative.

Brooklyn Intersection Improvements
Before and after photos of the intersection of Atlantic, Washington and Underhill avenues in Brooklyn. (Credit: Jim Smith/WCBS 880)

Among those happy to see the improvements is John Longo, who was injured at the Prospect Heights intersection two years ago.

"It feels like night and day," he said. "So much safer."

For more information on the project, click here.

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