ZNY ARTCC RADAR CTLR LOST SEPARATION BTWN OPPOSITE DIRECTION ACFT DSNDING AND CLBING.

Narrative

I WAS WORKING RADAR SECTOR 73 FOR OVER 1 HR. THE TFC WAS MODERATE TO HVY AT TIMES. TFC WAS BEING REROUTED THROUGH MY AIRSPACE DUE TO WX. WE HAD OPPOSITE DIRECTION CLBING AND DSNDING TFC TAKING PLACE INTO ACFT THAT ARE ALSO DEVIATING IN MY AIRSPACE. WHEN ACFT X WAS HANDED OFF TO MY SECTOR; ACFT Y WAS ON A WX DEV HDG APPROX 090 DEGS WHEN ACFT #1 WAS CLBED OPPOSITE DIRECTION HDG 290 DEGS WITH ABOUT 7 MI LATERAL COURSES. ACFT Y WAS AT FL210 WHEN ACFT X WAS CLBED TO FL220. HE THEN REQUESTED FL200 AS A FINAL AND WAS ISSUED THAT. ACFT Y THEN APPEARED TO DSND AND TURN TO THE S. ACFT X WAS STOPPED AT FL190. I CALLED RADAR SECTOR 27 AND INFORMED THEM TO AMEND ACFT Y TO FL200. I THEN CALLED ACFT #1 AND ISSUED A HDG OF 250 DEGS. THE PLT SAID HE COULD NOT TURN DUE TO WX. I THEN DSNDED HIM TO 17000 FT AT WHICH POINT THE ERROR OCCURRED A FEW SECONDS LATER. THIS SECTOR IS ONLY 40 MI WIDE WITH 2 JET RTES THROUGH IT. IT IS CONSTANTLY BUSY WITH VOLUME AND SEVERAL IN TRAIL RESTRS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO ADHERE TO. TFC MGMNT CONTINUES TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN THIS SECTOR NEEDS HELP. OALTS ARE 14 FOR SECTOR. THE COMPUTER SHOWS 16.