West Side Construction Project Creates Flooding Problem On Henry Hudson Parkway
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Heavy rain hitting the Tri-State caused some ponding and flooding on area roadways Tuesday.
The flooding created issues for the early morning commute, slowing traffic on the northbound side of the Henry Hudson Parkway at West 158th Street.
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Flooding has been happening on the parkway near West 151st Street where a new pedestrian bridge is going up. It turns out, state construction created the problem, CBS2's Ali Bauman reported.
Donovan James, a tow truck driver responsible for trying to get disabled vehicles off the roadway, said he sees flooding on the Henry Hudson "every major rainstorm."
"Every one, especially construction zones," he told CBS2's Magdalena Doris. "There's a new overpass being built on the West Side, so it seems like it just clogs every time."
He said he thought there was three to four feet of water already on the roadway and a disabled vehicle could be seen stopped on the left-hand side of the Henry Hudson.
"It is too deep to climb in and get underneath his car," he said. "I would be diving in, I would be soaked myself."
At the same spot during Friday night's rain, commuters created waves, having to drive through dangerous waters that have recently seemed to accumulate quickly with every downpour.
"It can cause danger, you can do hydroplaning and all," one woman said.
"When you come by, there was not water. But when you return back, a pool of water, it surprises you," a man added.
The drivers started to notice it when the state started constructing a $24 million pedestrian bridge over the parkway.
"The state must repair something there. Because something must be wrong there," the man said.
CBS2 asked the state what is wrong.
The Department of Transportation said catch basins were clogging up, so the rain couldn't drain.
The road dividers that were installed during construction are partially covering those drains, which the city said has been preventing its equipment from cleaning them out.
The state DOT said what's there is only temporary. It's helping construct the pedestrian walkway that was supposed to be finished in December. Now it's set to be finished this spring, Bauman reported.
Until then, the city said it's working with the state to, "develop a protocol to more effectively clean out catch basins at this area during the ongoing bridge construction."
As Bauman reported, there's still no answer as to whose bright idea it was to cover the rain drains during construction.
Flooding was also reported on the Mosholu Parkway in the area of the Major Deegan Expressway and the Cross Island Parkway at the Throgs Neck Bridge.
Flooding also closed all lanes of the Queens-bound BQE at Astoria Boulevard for a time, but it has since reopened.
In New Jersey, the National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory Tuesday for the central and coastal parts of the state. The advisory includes parts of Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Somerset counties.
The rain is expected to move quickly through the area but could drop up to a half-inch of rain in a short time. High winds are also expected off the coast and small boat operators are urged to avoid navigating.
In Newark, there was also flooding on Avenue L near Watson Avenue.
For current traffic conditions, click here.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
