Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday, Oct. 22, that construction has begun on a $64.4 million project to replace the bridge carrying the Bronx River Parkway over the Metro-North Railroad in the Wakefield and Woodlawn Heights sections of the Bronx. According to the governor’s office, the project will replace a 72-year-old bridge with a modern, multi-girder steel structure that will improve travel and enhance safety along this vital artery for commuters in the metropolitan area.

 

Hochul said investments in infrastructure are one of the surest ways to super charge New York’s economy and at the same time create a more resilient transportation network that keeps people and goods on the move. “The Bronx River Parkway is one of New York City’s most critical travel corridors, and with this bridge replacement now complete, we’re not only ensuring the continued safe operation of the Metro-North line, but also fostering growth and prosperity for the entire region,” the governor said. 

 

Additionally, officials from the governor’s office said a nearby concrete arch bridge carrying the parkway over the Bronx River will be repaired and the northbound exit ramp from the Bronx River Parkway to Bronx Boulevard will be extended by approximately 70 feet to reduce congestion and further enhance safety.

 

New York State Department of Transportation commissioner, Marie Therese Dominguez, said the project demonstrates the governor’s commitment to building back local infrastructure to better serve New Yorkers and meet the challenges of the 21st century. “This new bridge and all the improvements being made along this vital corridor, will enhance safety and improve traffic flow throughout this busy section of the Bronx,” she said.   

 

Approximately, 450 Metro-North trains pass beneath the Bronx River Parkway Bridge every day, according to the governor’s office. The new structure will feature a new, wider concrete deck, 12-feet-wide travel lanes and new shoulders on both sides of the bridge. Other improvements include new bridge abutments, retaining walls, LED lighting and drainage. Scheduled for completion in fall 2024, the new bridge will have an estimated service life of about 75 years.

 

Reacting to the news of the new project, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) said New Yorkers deserve 21st century infrastructure that centers around safety, accessibility, and equity. “I’m excited that ground has now been broken on this important project to modernize the Bronx River Parkway,” he said. “As Congress works to pass substantial investments in all aspects of our nation’s infrastructure, I’m looking forward to working with Gov. Hochul and the rest of our state and local government to ensure the longevity of our transit networks.” 

 

Meanwhile, representatives from the governor’s office said improvements to the nearby concrete arch bridge over Bronx River will include new concrete safety barriers along each side of the bridge, wider travel lanes and new shoulders. Structural repairs will be made to the bridge’s underside and the stone façade will be cleaned and a new protective coating added. Additionally, new LED lighting will be installed, handrails will be painted and new information signs will be placed along the adjacent Bronx River Greenway.

 

State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (S.D. 34), who recently announced she had tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated, said strengthening New York State’s infrastructure was critical to ensuring the local community’s long-term safety. “This project will not only protect commuters, it will limit congestion and reduce travel time as well,” Biaggi said. “I want to thank Gov. Kathy Hochul for prioritizing the Bronx River Parkway bridge in the North Bronx and investing in our State’s public infrastructure.”

The project also includes improvements to the Bronx River Parkway between Nereid Avenue and East 233rd Street in Wakefield, including new LED lighting, wider travel lanes, new shoulders, resurfaced pavement and new overhead sign structures. To better manage traffic volumes, signal timings will be recalibrated at the exit ramp at East 236th Street and Bronx Boulevard, as well as at the intersection of Carpenter Street and East 236th Street. The project will also make landscape enhancements throughout the project limits, including the planting of 23 new trees and 189 shrubs.

 

Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) said the Bronx River Parkway was a vital piece of infrastructure for both Bronxites and commuters from the Hudson Valley and like many areas throughout New York and the nation, it was critical that the government invested in the infrastructure so that it can last many more decades. “Thank you to Gov. Hochul and the NYS Department of Transportation for giving this area, where the parkway crosses Metro-North tracks and the Bronx River itself, the attention and investment it needs,” he said. 

 

In order to minimize the impact on the traveling public, lane closures during construction will largely be limited to weekends and overnight hours.

 

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. also welcomed the news, saying, “Ensuring safety, improving infrastructure and reducing congestion to this vital artery that connects commuters in the Metropolitan Area is much needed in the northern section of The Bronx.” He added, “Thank you Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State Department of Transportation for beginning this vital work.”

 

Meanwhile, District 11 City Councilman Eric Dinowitz said he was thrilled that the North Bronx was getting this critical investment in the area’s infrastructure, making it safer and more convenient for commuters to cross the Bronx River Parkway. “8These much needed improvements prove that state leadership is paying attention to the Bronx. I’d like to thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to our great borough.”