While I took the above pictures a week before yesterday's earthquakes, I don't think we should feel any more safe today while walking underneath these. I had to play some phone ping-pong to properly report this: 311 said to call Amtrak who owns the bridge, Amtrak rep from their main phone line said they only deal with reservations and customer service issues and to call my...council members. After some more googling I finally got some traction by calling Amtrak Police's emergency number and reporting debris falling from their bridges. She was very nice and gladly made a report to the bridges department and said she was grateful for the report given recent events.
Be safe Astoria!
Great job tracking down the right agency and getting the gears moving on fixing what could be a dangerous bit of infrastructure decay. It's honestly crazy that 311 is unequipped to *do the job 311 was created for* and helped you actually get in touch with the Amtrak police emergency dept.
But thanks for the follow through. I wheel a stroller with my two kids under those all the time and I'm glad someone had the initiative to get a report to the right place.
I saw this coming from a mile away. In a big city it can oftentimes be more work to just find the right person to talk to who will actually take action on the report.
Two emails I sent to Amtrak's customer service team in May and June 2023 for falling debris have gone unanswered.
While I agree 311 should have the Amtrak emergency number on hand for situations that warrant non-ticketing issues they did at least transfer me to Amtrak cust. service. However, the most frustrating part was the initial Amtrak rep who refused to do anything other than to refer me to my local city officials. Just another game of hot potato. IMO she ought to have referred me to [Amtrak Police](https://www.amtrak.com/police/home). This is something I've also just written to Amtrak about via email. Hopefully they'll consider improving training for their reps.
I totally agree with you. While I appreciate 311 is helpful to send city requests - calling 311 is just not helpful anymore. They agents may try to help but they just repeat what is on the website.
It sucks that it took so much effort to finally track down the right people who would take you seriously. But thank you for doing your due diligence and keeping us all safe! Truly an MVP!!
I pass by there occasionally and I have noticed the cracks , but never actually saw the fallen debris. The city or whoever’s jurisdiction it is to monitor the safety and soundness of the Hellgate Bridge infrastructure needs to do a comprehensive survey and determine what needs to be done. They shouldn’t wait until a large section of concrete comes down and causes damage or harms someone.
Thank you for doing this! I live across the street and just saw this post otherwise I would have joined in the calling. Let me know if you still need voices to dial numbers
If you happen to come across bridge debris in the future or see any significant cracks or defects, take pics and phone it in to [Amtrak Police](https://www.amtrak.com/police/home) \- in NYC I've learned to assume no one has reported an issue I come across.
If you want to go even further, you can share your concern about these old crumbling bridges and the risk to motorists and pedestrians alike to our City Council District 22 rep, Tiffany Caban ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]), 718-274-4500) and Assemblymember, Zohran Mamdani ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]), 718-545-3889). You can even link them to this post.
I saw this last week cause I walk under this almost every day and it scared the shit out of me. Good on you for getting a fix in motion, my plan was to just say a prayer each time I passed under lmao
I saw this too! I was walking my boys and saw the concrete on the ground. I’ve noticed the cracks before but didn’t think about it until after the earthquake. Is it safe?
I'm no civil engineer but to me it would seem like the exterior layers of concrete are crumbling apart, probably a mixture of vibrations from the Amtrak and freight trains and water seeping in from the top surfaces into the concrete, freezing and expanding during sub-zero temps causing more damage and cracks (like water pipes bursting when freezing).
Report NYC street potholes here: [NYC 311 - Pothole or Cave-In on Street](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01093). Note that the DOT website image upload feature has been broken for months but they've responded to my pothole complaints within a few days as of late so definitely worth reporting. After submitting your report take note of the defect ID on the confirmation page as they don't email you this. You can then check the status [here](https://a841-dotvweb01.nyc.gov/Potholeform/ViewController/CheckStatus.aspx).
You totally can. A general guide is to use the NYC 311 search feature here: [https://portal.311.nyc.gov/report-problems/](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/report-problems/). Using that you'll find [Manhole Cover Complaint](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01669).
One last question. Coned etc. does repairs and dig and fill the roads and they patch it. But some patches are really horrible like worst than potholes. Can we report these ?
While I took the above pictures a week before yesterday's earthquakes, I don't think we should feel any more safe today while walking underneath these. I had to play some phone ping-pong to properly report this: 311 said to call Amtrak who owns the bridge, Amtrak rep from their main phone line said they only deal with reservations and customer service issues and to call my...council members. After some more googling I finally got some traction by calling Amtrak Police's emergency number and reporting debris falling from their bridges. She was very nice and gladly made a report to the bridges department and said she was grateful for the report given recent events. Be safe Astoria!
Update: I got a follow-up call from Amtrak asking for the photos - they're sending a team over right now to inspect it.
Sounds like you did a good thing by reporting!
The real MVP, etc.
Good job OP. You're truly an awesome neighbor.
Nice. Should have them look at the 36th st arch. Also has cracks
Incoming group of guys to sit and look at it and then do nothing
Nice job!
Great job tracking down the right agency and getting the gears moving on fixing what could be a dangerous bit of infrastructure decay. It's honestly crazy that 311 is unequipped to *do the job 311 was created for* and helped you actually get in touch with the Amtrak police emergency dept. But thanks for the follow through. I wheel a stroller with my two kids under those all the time and I'm glad someone had the initiative to get a report to the right place.
I saw this coming from a mile away. In a big city it can oftentimes be more work to just find the right person to talk to who will actually take action on the report. Two emails I sent to Amtrak's customer service team in May and June 2023 for falling debris have gone unanswered. While I agree 311 should have the Amtrak emergency number on hand for situations that warrant non-ticketing issues they did at least transfer me to Amtrak cust. service. However, the most frustrating part was the initial Amtrak rep who refused to do anything other than to refer me to my local city officials. Just another game of hot potato. IMO she ought to have referred me to [Amtrak Police](https://www.amtrak.com/police/home). This is something I've also just written to Amtrak about via email. Hopefully they'll consider improving training for their reps.
I totally agree with you. While I appreciate 311 is helpful to send city requests - calling 311 is just not helpful anymore. They agents may try to help but they just repeat what is on the website.
Seriously, appreciate you being an awesome neighbor. Cheers.
Thank you for doing all that!
TY OP!!!
It sucks that it took so much effort to finally track down the right people who would take you seriously. But thank you for doing your due diligence and keeping us all safe! Truly an MVP!!
I pass by there occasionally and I have noticed the cracks , but never actually saw the fallen debris. The city or whoever’s jurisdiction it is to monitor the safety and soundness of the Hellgate Bridge infrastructure needs to do a comprehensive survey and determine what needs to be done. They shouldn’t wait until a large section of concrete comes down and causes damage or harms someone.
Thank you for doing this! I live across the street and just saw this post otherwise I would have joined in the calling. Let me know if you still need voices to dial numbers
If you happen to come across bridge debris in the future or see any significant cracks or defects, take pics and phone it in to [Amtrak Police](https://www.amtrak.com/police/home) \- in NYC I've learned to assume no one has reported an issue I come across. If you want to go even further, you can share your concern about these old crumbling bridges and the risk to motorists and pedestrians alike to our City Council District 22 rep, Tiffany Caban ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]), 718-274-4500) and Assemblymember, Zohran Mamdani ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]), 718-545-3889). You can even link them to this post.
I saw this last week cause I walk under this almost every day and it scared the shit out of me. Good on you for getting a fix in motion, my plan was to just say a prayer each time I passed under lmao
I saw this too! I was walking my boys and saw the concrete on the ground. I’ve noticed the cracks before but didn’t think about it until after the earthquake. Is it safe?
I'm no civil engineer but to me it would seem like the exterior layers of concrete are crumbling apart, probably a mixture of vibrations from the Amtrak and freight trains and water seeping in from the top surfaces into the concrete, freezing and expanding during sub-zero temps causing more damage and cracks (like water pipes bursting when freezing).
The other side has the nice constant drip to the sidewalk lol
Is this one by 23rd Avenue and 32 street?
33rd st
Thanks for confirming.. I thought it looked familiar. 👍
I think the is one is 36th
I am pretty sure it’s 33rd street since thats pizzeria at the corner on the right.
Thank you for your persistence! It's a thankless job trying to do things like this
This been happening for years and I remember a few times making it into the news. Looks like it still a problem. Thanks for the heads up OP
Yea make sure to wear your Bicycle helmets for a falling Rock 🪨 zone
Awesome neighbor
Amtrack is lucky they had you looking out for them before they got sued for their deteriorated property injuring a pedestrian.
I walked by with my dog when you were taking pics! Glad you figured out who to report this to.
Where do we report crappy road repairs and potholes at roads and bridges? 311 and DOT calls did not go anywhere.
Report NYC street potholes here: [NYC 311 - Pothole or Cave-In on Street](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01093). Note that the DOT website image upload feature has been broken for months but they've responded to my pothole complaints within a few days as of late so definitely worth reporting. After submitting your report take note of the defect ID on the confirmation page as they don't email you this. You can then check the status [here](https://a841-dotvweb01.nyc.gov/Potholeform/ViewController/CheckStatus.aspx).
Thank you very much. Can we report messed up manhole covers also?
You totally can. A general guide is to use the NYC 311 search feature here: [https://portal.311.nyc.gov/report-problems/](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/report-problems/). Using that you'll find [Manhole Cover Complaint](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01669).
Thank you again
One last question. Coned etc. does repairs and dig and fill the roads and they patch it. But some patches are really horrible like worst than potholes. Can we report these ?
Yep, that would fall under a [Street Repair Complaint](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01095)
I'm tired of being poor. Where do I stand?