QUEENS — Life will soon get easier for cyclists, joggers and pedestrians with two new bike lanes that are currently under construction in Astoria Park.
The 4-foot-wide multi-use lanes are part of the Queens East River and North Shore Greenway project, a 10.6-mile urban trail, aiming to give residents access to the shoreline and improve options for cyclists.
Astoria parkgoers said they were happy about the initiative. “Drivers are often really careless and dangerous,” said Joaquin Elizondo, 32, a camera operator, who likes to jog and work out in the park. “Sometimes they are not stopping at stop signs so anything to alleviate this problem and make it safer (for joggers and cyclists) is a welcome initiative.”
Eventually, the project aims to connect the neighborhoods of Long Island City, Ravenswood and Astoria in Western Queens with Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst in Northern Queens, according to the Department of City Planning's website.
The first phase of the project will cost $3.46 million and will run for 5.63 miles, connecting five parks on the East River shoreline — Ralph DeMarco Park, Astoria Park, Hallet’s Cove, Queensbridge Park and Rainey Park, according to the Parks Department.
“This portion of the greenway will be complete by the late fall,” said Parks Department’s spokesman in an e-mail. “Astoria Park is the last segment being constructed.”
The second portion will run from Ralph DeMarco Park to the Flushing Bay Promenade and Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
