Kingsbridge residents living near Kingsbridge Road and Grand Concourse say the illicit drug use in their area has exploded.

They say empty syringes and needles litter the streets of their neighborhood everywhere.

Several residents called in to News 12 about the conditions near the Kingsbridge Road underpass along the B and D line.

"We go through a lot. Because they're walking with you, you don't know if they're going to hold you up. It's a lot," says Nilda Torres, who has lived in the area for 42 years.

She says she sees people using drugs as soon as she steps outside.

"That's their corner. Their corner is that building that I live at and across the street," Torres points out.

Syringes, caps, and needles litter the ground and neighbors say it wasn't always like this.

"Nothing, nothing, nothing. Not even the same as it was two years ago," Torres says.

"Within two years, it got really bad," says resident Amy Lewis

Councilmember Oswald Feliz for District 15 serves the area and the issue is personal for him.

"I see it every single day, I live right in front of it," Feliz says.

He says the drug use is happening just steps away from a playground and school.

"We even found needles in the playground. Imagine a child thinking it's a toy and potentially putting it in their mouth?" Feliz says.

Feliz says fixing the issue has been an uphill battle, but recently closing one side of the underpass has been a huge help.

"So we're going to be closing down the second side of the underpass. We're also working with the Sanitation Department to make sure they're truly enforcing the laws," Feliz adds.

As far as closing the other side of the underpass, Feliz tells News 12 first they had to get local support from the police, the community board, and the City Council. That part is now done and now he says they are working with the MTA and should have answers within the next month.