Large trucks backing up Astoria Boulevard has been a decades-long problem, but local elected officials say they have a solution they believe the State Department of Transportation may be able to pull off. NY1's Van Tieu filed the following report.

Big Rigs are a common sight on Astoria Boulevard next to the Grand Central Parkway. It's also source of anxiety for neighbors.

"This is a pedestrian neighborhood and it’s dealing with giant machines rolling through here at all hours of the day and night,” said resident, Matthew Weiss.

Another neighbor, Alia Ganaposki, shared a scary moment she had living in the congested area.

"[The truckers are] goal oriented. They’re trying to go, and they’re pulling into the pedestrian crosswalk, and I was stuck for half an hour unable to get through," she explained

On Friday, residents and elected officials held a press conference noting the commercial truck congestion is a public safety, noise pollution, and environmental issue. They said this has been a problem for decades, and the solution can be as simple as lowering Grand Central Parkway roads.

"It really functions more like a highway than a street," said Council Member Costa Constantinides.

Currently, trucks have to get off of Grand Central Parkway between Robert F. Kennedy Bridge and the Brooklyn Queens Expressway to avoid low bridges.  Overpasses along the stretch have height clearances as low as six feet and six inches. 

The state’s parkway system was designed for passenger cars in the early 20th century.

Elected officials are calling for commercial trucks to be allowed on Grand Central Parkway between the R-F-K Bridge and the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.

"Dig up the road, lower it the amount of inches that will be necessary to allow those trucks to fit, and let them go from the bridge to the BQE without coming off the [Grand Central Parkway]," explained State Senator Gianaris. Gianaris said the cost would not compare to much larger transportation projects and is worth exploring.

The State Department of Transportation has not commented on the proposal. Elected officials say the State agency indicated that the idea is feasible. ​