BP Fossella Issues Public Call to Suspend and Reschedule State’s Mishandled Project to Maintain Korean War Veterans Parkway During Peak Summer Months
Editor’s note: The extension of highway covered by this scheduled maintenance proposal is among the most heavily used by Islanders during the summer months. It’s the fastest way to get to the Garden State Parkway, and it already experiences extreme traffic delays every single weekend day and often during the week as well. More people are on vacation or break and some even rent houses along the shore just for the summer. **New York State was delaying the project for two weeks in order to come up with a better plan. Once the pre-Memorial Day closures had happened, they could not immediately be removed. According to a NYS DOT statement, “The New York State Department of Transportation has delayed construction activities on the Korean War Veterans Parkway for two weeks as we conduct additional outreach with the Staten Island community regarding the impacts of this road repaving and improvement project.”
Around the time of this press conference, Asm. Reilly provided the following update about the plan:
5/8/2026 UPDATE ON THE KOREAN WAR VETERANS PARKWAY (KWVP) PROJECTMy office recently spoke with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT) regarding the ongoing construction and traffic concerns surrounding the Korean War Veterans Parkway (KWVP). We shared the frustrations many residents have expressed and pushed for adjustments that could help reduce the significant impact on Staten Island commuters and families.Below is an update based on that conversation:• NYS DOT advised that the project is still in its early stages, which is why residents may not yet see visible construction activity in certain areas.• Work will be conducted in two shifts, beginning at 9:00 PM and continuing through 3:00 PM the following day. According to DOT, no scheduled work will take place between 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM, although emergency situations could alter those hours.• Weekend work is also expected, particularly for ramp-related construction.• Current projections estimate that southbound lane work will continue through September or October 2026.After that, construction will shift to the northbound lanes and continue through Summer 2027. DOT noted that weather conditions will determine the exact timeline, as work may pause during severe winter conditions.During our discussion, we specifically raised concerns about the severe traffic congestion Staten Islanders experience during weekends, holidays, and peak travel seasons.Approximately 38,000 vehicles use this roadway daily — and that number likely triples during the summer months as Staten Island families travel off-island for beaches, recreation, and other activities. Staten Island residents have extremely limited options for leaving and re-entering the borough, making closures and lane reductions especially disruptive.We also highlighted the gridlock residents face during seasonal activities such as summer shore travel and fall outings like pumpkin picking, where families often spend hours sitting in traffic simply trying to return home.Our office requested that NYS DOT explore opening the closed lane on weekends by temporarily covering roadway openings with steel plates to improve traffic flow. DOT explained that this may not be feasible because concrete roadway work differs significantly from asphalt operations. However, they did acknowledge the hardship these lane reductions are causing.While DOT would not commit to restoring both lanes every weekend, they did indicate they may consider alternate traffic plans during major holiday weekends such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.We also shared a letter from a constituent with them that raised concerns about the concrete debris that remains after the daily work that gets kicked up and could damage windshields, and create the risk of collisions, a safety concern.Our office will continue advocating for reasonable adjustments to minimize disruptions for Staten Island residents and commuters throughout this project. NYS DOT also stated they are open to continued communication and are willing to discuss further concerns and recommendations directly with our office.
Staten Island, NY – Borough President Vito Fossella publicly called for the suspension and rescheduling of the State’s current plan to shut down a significant portion of the Korean War Veterans Parkway to conduct maintenance work throughout the summer. This took place at a press conference on the Tyrellan Avenue Overpass on Thursday, May 21st at 11:30 AM.
The press conference comes in response to the plans of the New York State Department of Transportation to conduct maintenance of the Korean War Veterans Parkway. The State’s current plan involves shutting down the entire right lane of the southbound parkway for the duration of work, which is projected to take place through the summer. This is poised to unduly and significantly disrupt the lives and commutes of Staten Islanders who use the Parkway during its peak months, for an extended duration of time.
The groundwork of the project was laid without notification to BP Fossella and the NYPD, and the State has yet to adequately respond to the Borough President’s concerns and recommendation of delaying the project to off-peak months.
At the press conference, the Borough President issued a public call for the State to suspend the work for Memorial Day and reschedule the project to a more appropriate time following the peak summer months when the highway is most used.
Banner Image: Korean War Vets Pkwy sign. Image Credit – Asm. Reilly
BP Vito Fossella
The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough's interests within City government. The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities. In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough. As the chair of the Borough Board, the Borough President leads Staten Island’s City Council delegation and Community Board chairs in the process of reviewing and approving the transfer of public properties to private use. The Borough President’s Office houses the Borough's Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses. The Borough President monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, and acts as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.