The chronic flooding at the Amboy Road underpass in Bay Terrace may seem hopeless, but there was once a glimmer of hope for action. It was 1970, and the road under the Staten Island Rapid Transit (as it was then known) overpass near Ainsworth Avenue had flooded once again, blocking traffic and causing headaches around the South Shore. Nothing new here -- in fact, four years earlier, the flooded stretch of road was shut down for a full week following a big storm. But this time, the City Council President himself, Sanford Garelik, was invited to tour the area. It didn't take long. Observing the swamp-like conditions in the middle of a major Staten Island road, he called the situation "disgraceful." Some thought the high-level recognition meant that a fix might be in the works.

Um, no.

47 years later, we're still waiting.

Join us, SILive readers, for journey of repetition -- you'll see the same floods at the same location, and feel the same frustrations. Sound off in the comments when you're done.

Staten Island Advance photos

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Staten Island Advance photo

First: Why is the problem so bad here?

Staten Island Railway trains originally ran at grade level through intersections and across some streets until a program in the mid-20th century removed them all -- by either moving the tracks under the streets or over them. The Ainsworth overpass plan involved dropping the street a few feet at the same time so that big vehicles could fit under the overpass. But, gravity being gravity, that invited all rainwater from the area to flow to that spot, overwhelming storm sewers in heavy rain situations. This photo shows flooding in the wake of Hurricane Irene in 2011.

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Staten Island Advance/Tony Carannante

1966 -- Amboy Road is shut down for a week

Get used to this scene: A classic car is stranded in slush after the driver misjudged its ability to handle the flooded underpass. The 1966 storm caused major damage Islandwide -- and it closed this heavily traveled stretch of Amboy Road for a full week.

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Staten Island Advance photo

1966 -- Pumping is the plan

Officials prepare to use pumps to get rid of the water. According to our archives, gathered at the scene here are Ben Carosa of the Environmental Protection Administration, Hugo Vervuurt, chief engineer from the EPA's Staten Island office, Holt Meyer, borough development director, and Joseph DeNora from the EPA.

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Staten Island Advance photo

1970 -- City Council President says situation is "disgraceful"

On the right side of the photo, City Council President Sanford Garelik, left, and City Councilman Edward V. Curry watch as motorists attempt to make their way through the underpass. Garelik toured the flooded area at the request of Curry, and later described the situation as "disgraceful."

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Staten Island Advance photo

1976: Keep on truckin'

What on earth was this trucker thinking when he kept going? (My guess: "Not my truck.") Anyway, we're amazed that he made it as far as he did. By the way, he was hauling goods for Pantry Pride, a supermarket that used to exist in the New Dorp location that's now home to Shop-Rite.

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Staten Island Advance photo

1978: Stuck in the ice

This looks ... just ... miserable. It's bad enough being stuck in the water -- but these huge chunks of ice? In the middle of the Blizzard of 1978? Might as well just leave the car there -- after all, where would you park it?

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Staten Island Advance photo

2005: Can I make it through?

Following a 2005 rainstorm, this guy is pondering the question that hundreds have faced over the years: Can I make it through? The best answer we can give: If you have to ask, just turn around.

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Staten Island Advance photo

2006: Making a splash

It seems like the rule of navigating the underpass is this: As long as there are no cars stuck, I'll make it through.

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Staten Island Advance photo

2011: To the rescue

For every driver who gets stuck in the floodwaters, someone's got to bail them out. Following torrential rains in 2011, this tow truck driver ventured into the waters.

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2017: Cinco de Mayo storm

It happened again last week. We all know about that one.

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Staten Island Advance photo

What will the future hold?

One thing is certain: The issue won't fix itself. When heavy rains strike, you can be certain that the Bay Terrace underpass will flood -- and some poor soul will get stuck trying to make it through. (What was the Beetle owner thinking in this early 1970s photo?)

Our only hope is that our leaders take action.