Ocean Avenue's £15.5M safety overhaul kicks off with new bike lanes and pedestrian upgrades

Construction on a two-way bike path along Ocean Avenue is slated to begin Friday, the city transportation department said.

The $15.5 million project will allow cyclists to travel between Parkside Avenue and Empire Boulevard without having to tangle with motorists. The project will also add a new pedestrian plaza dedicated to late U.S. Rep. Shirley Chisholm to Prospect Park's Parkside entrance, and will upgrade a building near Flatbush and Ocean avenues with new bathrooms.

Sidewalks will be widened and crossing distances will be shortened at some intersections, officials said, and workers will also install new pedestrian islands along the stretch.

Rosa Gonzalez, who lives near the park's Ocean Avenue side, said navigating between drivers and bicyclists is a challenge.

"Even to cross is bad. You could get hit sometimes. The bikes don't look at you - they just keep running," she said.

She hoped a lane would help bring order to the road.