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City Unveils Wider Ramps On Brooklyn Bridge To Ease Congestion

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - A fix is in place to help solve one of the city's biggest traffic headaches.

Taking the FDR Drive to or from the Brooklyn Bridge at any time of day is usually a recipe for gridlock, WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reported.

New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan calls the congestion "the Brooklyn Bridge Squeeze."

City Unveils Wider Ramps On Brooklyn Bridge To Ease Congestion

"It's frustrating to get to the exit and see cars that cut in at the last minute," she said.

One-lane ramps have been widened into two lanes "to pop the cork on that congestion," Sadik-Khan said.

A third ramp at the Cadman Plaza exit on the Brooklyn side will be widened later this year.

"For a while, the Brooklyn Bridge was so difficult," State Sen. Daniel Squadron said. "I'm not sure anyone would have bought it."

City Unveils Wider Ramps On Brooklyn Bridge To Ease Congestion

The ramp widening is part of a massive rehab project on the bridge.

"New Yorkers can take pride knowing that the Brooklyn Bridge will serve as the premier inter-borough connection for another 130 years," Sadik-Khan said.

The work is all part of a $508 million project to repaint the Brooklyn Bridge and rehabilitate its approach ramps. The project, which began in 2010, is expected to be completed next year.

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