Comedian Pete Davidson used an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” to ask New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to fix the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE), drawing loud cheers from the audience. The exchange put a spotlight on motorists’ frustration with the highway’s prolonged construction and ageing infrastructure.

Davidson said he regularly sees cones but little visible work. Mamdani pointed to the city’s $4 billion BQE Central plan to repair the city-owned section between Atlantic Avenue and Sands Street, which he said is most at risk; construction is expected to start in 2030 and proceed over the following decade. He said the plan would prioritise safety and avoid diverting traffic into local neighbourhoods.