DUMBO, Brooklyn (PIX11) — The streets of New York have to be tough. They’re heavily traveled, and some are centuries old.
A special project is wrapping up along some historic roadways in Brooklyn.
Many of the roads in the DUMBO neighborhood are landmarked. Some call them cobblestones. They’re also classified as Belgian Bricks or blocks, based on the way they fit together.
The NYC Department of Design and Construction, along with the Department of Transportation, is wrapping up a six-year $108 million project.
26 blocks around the area were restored, including major sewer and drain improvements.
Some new areas have created accessible intersections and a smooth bike lane.
Some neighbors said the stones add to the area, and they’re glad construction is wrapping up.
A total of about 800,000 blocks have been reset, and infrastructure work has upgraded some drains, water, and sewer lines.
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Alexandria Sica is the President of the DUMBO Improvement District. She says it modernizes and keeps the historic charm.
“It’s totally functional. You walked around, it would be a trip hazard,” she said.
The city says almost all of the original blocks were restored and reused.
The streets date back nearly three centuries, when the area was a maritime and shipping center. Many of the original blocks were used as ballast in ships.
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