Saturday, March 29, 2008

Hell Gate to be upgraded

Astoria's Hell Gate Bridge is another western Queens structure where rehabilitation has been stalled and is now ready to resume, City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) said.

Amtrak will begin renovating the bridge on April 1 and complete work in one year, he said. Residents have long complained that the bridge poses dangers to pedestrians by leaking water and shedding debris.

"For too long this trestle, a landmark in our community, has been a sorry eyesore," Vallone said. "This bridge should be a neighborhood gem, not a crumbling piece of stone."

Amtrak put up scaffolding to fix the bridge nearly a year ago, but little renovation has since taken place, Vallone said. For years, rocks and pieces of plaster have fallen from the structure and damaged parked cars, he said. Water has also leaked from the bridge and frozen during the winter, causing one of Vallone's employees to slip and break her wrist, the councilman said.

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