Crashes Pile Up at Williamsburg and Greenpoint BQE Exits

By Williamsburg 365 Staff

More than 200 crashes have been recorded near the BQE exits in Williamsburg and Greenpoint over the past two years, according to state data.

The Manhattan Avenue exit led with 78 crashes, followed by McGuinness Boulevard with 67. Exit 31 at Wythe Avenue had 48, and the Meeker Avenue exit had 30. That is more than four times the state average.

Many are rear-end crashes and sideswipes. Traffic backs up at the lights, forcing drivers to slam on the brakes. Others change lanes at the last minute or cut across lane markings to make the exit.

Help is on the way, but not soon. The New York State Department of Transportation has planned a $9.5 million safety and mobility project for Exit 31 at Wythe Avenue and Williamsburg Street. The project will widen the ramp, add barriers to physically separate traffic, and improve the layout of the intersections at Wythe Avenue and Williamsburg Street West. It will also improve road markings, fix the traffic light, and rebuild nearby sidewalks and crosswalks.

Construction is expected to start in summer 2028 and finish in winter 2028–2029.