Readers Write: Why Keep 14th Avenue Closed All Night When No Work Is Being Done?

In response to the recent Readers Write letter about the ongoing 14th Avenue closure, I couldn't agree more with the concerns raised about the tremendous traffic congestion this situation is causing throughout Boro Park. However, I believe there is another important aspect of this issue that deserves just as much attention.

What happens in afternoon and at night, when the work crews leave?

For roughly 12 hours straight, the roadway remains completely closed, even when there is no visible repair activity taking place. No workers, no equipment operating, no progress being made — yet drivers are still forced to take lengthy detours.

If repairs cannot continue overnight, why can't the city at least find a way to partially reopen the roadway during those hours? Even allowing limited traffic through, if conditions are safe, could make a significant difference.

We're not talking about a quiet side street. 14th Avenue is a major corridor used by thousands of vehicles, including school buses, MTA buses, delivery trucks, and local residents. Closing such an important roadway around the clock should come with a serious effort to minimize the disruption.

Of course, if the sinkhole makes the roadway unsafe, nobody is suggesting that traffic should be allowed through. But has the city even explored temporary measures that would allow at least one lane to reopen during the many hours when no work is taking place?

The previous writer raised an excellent question about moving repairs to overnight hours. I would take that one step further: If the city isn't going to work overnight, why must the road remain completely closed overnight?

Necessary repairs are one thing. Leaving a major neighborhood artery completely shut down for hours on end without visible activity is another.

The community deserves an explanation - and a better solution.

From another concerned Boro Park resident.