Queens' main street experiences a makeover, transitioning to a one-way system for motorists; additional bicycle lanes planned for implementation

Woodside Avenue in Queens is set for a comprehensive redesign, as the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced traffic-pattern changes and "safety improvements" for the stretch from Roosevelt Avenue to Broadway in East Elmhurst.

The redesign aims to improve visibility for all roadway users and enhance roadway organization and safety. It includes expanded sidewalks and public spaces to reduce contact with vehicular traffic, as well as parking-protected curbside bike lanes and pedestrian islands to shorten crossing distances while slowing and calming traffic.

One significant change is that Woodside Avenue will become one-way, eastbound, from 76th Street to Broadway. Drivers coming to and from Elmhurst Hospital, the borough's trauma center, may be impacted by this change, with westbound access likely limited to 76th Street.

The DOT will also add bike lanes in both directions on Woodside Avenue as part of the redesign. However, the exact starting and stopping points along the stretch are not yet clear. The agency has stated that this redesign is part of its five-year master plan, which was made in response to Local Law 195 of 2019.

In 2024, the DOT added 29.3 miles of protected bike lanes, the third highest mileage number built in the city's history. This redesign of NYC streets and addition of bike lanes is part of a goal to launch a network of 500 secure bike parking locations in 2025.

The DOT plans to implement traffic signal timing changes to alleviate congestion in the area. The exact impact of the redesign on hospital staff and patients is currently unknown, as the hospital's press office has not yet responded to inquiries.

Work has already begun on the Woodside Avenue redesign, but officials have not yet said when the project will be complete. The planned completion date is Fall 2025.

Similar changes were made to Queens Boulevard from Skillman Avenue to Roosevelt Avenue, as part of the DOT's Streets Plan. The DOT's five-year master plan includes a mandate for the implementation of 50 miles of protected bike lanes per year. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez wrote that in 2024, they built the third-most number of protected bike lane miles in the city's history.

Eastbound access to the hospital's emergency room remains as planned according to DOT's plans. Drivers are advised to check for updates and plan their routes accordingly as the project progresses.

Queens' main street experiences a makeover, transitioning to a one-way system for motorists; additional bicycle lanes planned for implementation