The New York City Department of Environmental Protection and the New York City Department of Transportation broke ground on October 16, 2012, on an upgrade to the water and sewer infrastructure of the Springfield Gardens section of Queens, New York. This is the fourth phase (Phase D) of a $175-million neighborhood infrastructure improvement project, designed by Dewberry, to solve chronic flooding in the community.
The $53-million phase involves 2.8 miles of new sewer line, and 84 new catch basins. Approximately three and a half acres of new wetlands will be created. Dewberry's design includes a series of innovative Best Management Practice wetland designs:
- Springfield Lake will be dredged of 17,000 cubic yards of sediments to increase its depth and reduce algal blooms.
- Stormwater from new storm sewer lines will be filtered in marshes and wetlands, helping to improve the water quality of Jamaica Bay.
- More than 25,000 square feet of porous concrete will be installed in the median of Springfield Boulevard, allowing stormwater to pass through the concrete and be absorbed into the ground naturally. Stormwater will then be used by trees and other vegetation.
The Springfield Gardens sewer and water infrastructure upgrade is expected to be completed in 2014.