New York DOT Installed Concrete Traffic Islands in Queens
The agency upgraded intersections on 43rd and Skillman avenues to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Remote Work
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The New York Department of Transportation completed major intersection upgrades on 43rd and Skillman avenues in Queens. The new concrete islands were designed to eliminate mixing zones and increase safety for local road users.
Why it matters
These infrastructure changes aim to slow down turning vehicles and improve daylighting, addressing long-standing safety concerns following multiple fatal crashes in the area. The project seeks to protect vulnerable road users by physically separating bike and vehicle traffic.
The Department of Transportation installed the upgrades to replace existing mixing zones that were originally established during the 2018 bike lane rollout. The project follows a history of fatal incidents in the vicinity, including a death in 2017 and a 2024 collision.
The players
New York Department of Transportation
The city agency is responsible for maintaining street infrastructure, managing traffic signals, and implementing safety initiatives across the five boroughs.
Gelacio Reyes
He was a 32-year-old delivery worker whose death in 2017 highlighted the safety hazards faced by cyclists and road workers in the borough.
The details
The agency poured concrete to create permanent traffic islands that force vehicles to slow when turning. By removing the previously configured mixing zones, the city aims to prevent the types of deadly interactions between trucks and cyclists seen in recent years.
Timeline
A delivery worker named Gelacio Reyes died in a crash in 2017.
The initial bike lanes were installed on these avenues in 2018.
A cyclist died in a collision with a truck in 2024.
The Department of Transportation completed the intersection upgrades in September 2026.
Market Landscape
The concrete islands follow the design standards established by New York City's Vision Zero initiative. This installation reflects a broader trend of shifting toward permanent physical street hardening to replace temporary bollards or painted lane markings.
Commuters and cyclists in Queens should expect permanent changes to traffic flow and intersection turning radii on 43rd and Skillman avenues. These physical barriers provide a higher level of protection for daily travelers but may slightly alter standard turning patterns for drivers.
The takeaway
These safety upgrades prioritize physical infrastructure over painted lines to reduce fatal vehicle-cyclist interactions. Residents should be aware of the new traffic patterns at these intersections to ensure safe navigation.
Further reading
For more on local infrastructure, see Remote Work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Streetsblog New York City.
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