Repairs make sidewalks unsafe, say area residents

Residents say walking between 15th Avenue and 16th Avenue can betreacherous. Due to National Grid replacing gas lines, the sidewalkis bumpy and broken. Tony Favale, a resident of IndependenceGardens, the co-op that runs along Shore Parkway, said the problemsstarted in December when the Department of Transportation beganconstruction work along the Belt Parkway– and have continued eversince. First, the street itself was cut open to put in a new sewerline. They closed that up and repaved it nicely, he explained,adding that he has called 3-1-1 and National Grid numerous times tocomplain, but was told it was being looked into. Favale has notcontacted any local officials yet. Then, National Grid cut up thesidewalk to replace rotting pipes, which is fine, Favalecontinued. But when they closed it back up, they did a bad job. IfI did this as a homeowner and left it like this, I would beresponsible for it. Adding insult to injury, Independence Gardenshas many elderly and disabled residents. This is not safe by anymeans, although it is temporary, Favale said. If someone fallsit’s a domino effect as to who is responsible. We homeowners willend up paying for it, not the city. But National Grid spokeswomanKaren Young told The Brooklyn Spectator that the sidewalks will befixed as soon as the weather cooperates. We did move a gas main inthat area due to sewer repair, Young said. Right now, permanentrepair is scheduled to happen as soon as possible. The materialsused are very sensitive and the temperature has to be just right.We hope to get it fixed right away. Gary Abrahamsen, a disabledresident of Independence Gardens, said that besides the sidewalkbeing nearly impossible to walk on, snowplows and constructionequipment used to fix the Belt Parkway have eroded the curb cutsnear his home. I have called 3-1-1 so many times, Abrahamsensaid, Six-out-of-eight people living in this community arehandicapped. When Access-A-Ride comes to pick up my mother, whocannot walk, they always have a hard time getting into the drivewaybecause all of the curb cuts are broken. If you are not careful,you can bust a tire in these potholes or even fall and twist yourankle, echoed his wife, Lena.

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