GREAT KILLS — Work to build a sidewalk on a section of Hylan Boulevard next to Great Kills Park has started after two people were killed near the area last year.
Workers started excavation work Tuesday to build the new 4,500 square-foot path from Buffalo Street to Spratt Avenue, the Department of Transportation said.
Currently, Hylan Boulevard has little to no sidewalk on the side adjacent to the park from Buffalo Street to Bay Terrace, despite several bus stops along the way.
Rep. Dan Donovan said he called for the new sidewalk after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a car while crossing the street in December.
"People visiting our parks and commuters going to work will have a safe haven, a safe pathway to their destination," Donovan said.
The DOT expects the approximately $59,000 addition to take between seven to 10 days to complete, depending on the weather.
The city hadn't installed sidewalk on the park side of the street because officials feared trees would obstruct it, they said. But, after Donovan's request in January, space was found that avoids the trees and their roots, said DOT's Staten Island Borough Commissioner Tom Cocola.
Hylan Boulevard has been dubbed the "Boulevard of Death" by some activists after an uptick in traffic fatalities with eight deaths last year, up from four in 2014.
In December, 72-year-old Thomas Violante, of Great Kills, was crossing Hylan Boulevard at the Buffalo Street intersection when he was struck and killed by the driver of an SUV, police said.
The 75-year-old driver remained on the scene and was not charged.
In September, Alexa Cioffi, 21, of Eltingville, was riding her bike on Hylan Boulevard when Michael Khmil, 42, driving a 2015 Toyota SUV with a boat in tow, overtook them near Redgrave Avenue, police said.
The more than 4,000 pound boat detached and pinned Cioffi underneath, killing her.
Khmil was indicted on manslaughter charges after prosecutors said he failed to secure the boat onto the trailer with chains and didn't install a brake system.
