BQE/I-278: Inside the Artery That Keeps Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan Moving

The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE), officially designated Interstate 278, is one of New York City's most vital — and most congested — roadways. Stretching approximately 11 miles through the heart of the city, the BQE serves as a critical connector between the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, carrying tens of thousands of vehicles each day. Built largely during the mid-20th century under the direction of urban planner Robert Moses, the highway weaves through dense residential and commercial neighborhoods, passing beneath the iconic Brooklyn Heights Promenade and skirting the waterfront along the East River. For countless commuters, truckers, and travelers, it is an unavoidable part of daily life in New York City.

Despite its importance to the regional transportation network, the BQE has long been a source of frustration and controversy. Aging infrastructure, chronic traffic bottlenecks, and ongoing debates over costly reconstruction have kept the expressway in the headlines for years. The New York City Department of Transportation has grappled with a multi-billion-dollar question: how to rehabilitate a crumbling roadway that runs directly beneath a beloved historic promenade without destroying the neighborhood above it. Residents living along the corridor also face persistent concerns about noise, air quality, and the physical barrier the highway creates between communities and the waterfront. As the city continues to weigh its options, the future of the BQE remains one of the most consequential infrastructure decisions facing New York in a generation.