On June 6th, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) joined with Department of Design & Construction (DDC) will begin Phase 1 of the installation of nearly three miles of high level storm sewers in the Gowanus neighborhood. Additional sewer capacity will help to reduce flooding during heavy rain while also improving the health of the Gowanus Canal. The work is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2018.

CURBSIDE PARKING AND DRIVEWAY ACCESS RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IN EFFECT

Work will be performed at the following locations:

•  3rd Avenue between Carroll Street and Douglass Street
•  Carroll Street between Gowanus Canal and 4th Avenue
•  Denton Place between Carroll Street and 1st Street
•  President Street between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue
•  Union Street between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue
•  Sackett Street between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue
•  Degraw Street between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue
•  Douglass Street between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue

The permitted work hours will be Mondays through Fridays from 7:00AM to 6:00PM; however, the typical work hours will be Mondays through Fridays 7:00AM to 3:30PM.

Over the last 12 months, electric and gas utilities have been relocated to make room beneath the roadways for the new sewers. As part of the construction beginning this spring, 87 new catch basins will be installed to allow stormwater to drain from the streets into 14,000 linear feet of new high level storm sewers. In addition, all existing catch basin drainage connections will be switched from the existing combined sewer to the new high level storm sewers. This will ensure that more wastewater gets routed to a wastewater treatment plant and reduce the likelihood and volume of any combined sewer overflows into the Canal. The work will also include the installation of 10,000 linear feet of new water mains, helping to ensure the reliability of the water delivery system for decades to come.

DEP is also building nearly 90 (map and photos here) specially designed curbside gardens in the neighborhoods of Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Park Slope and Prospect Heights. When construction is completed, the curbside gardens, also called bioswales, will have the capacity to collect and absorb nearly 170,000 gallons of stormwater when it rains. It is estimated that the bioswales will capture more than 8 million gallons of stormwater each year, thereby reducing sewer overflows into the Gowanus Canal and improving the health of the waterway. To view a video of a bioswale collecting stormwater go here. The bioswales will also green the neighborhoods and help clean the air.