Starting at 9pm on Monday, June 21st, motorists are advised of major changes reaching the bridge; the addition of protected bike lanes will relieve longtime congestion on the Brooklyn Bridge promenade—the first reconfiguration of the iconic bridge since trolley tracks were permanently removed in 1950
Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that, starting next Monday, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) will implement major bicycle and pedestrian accessibility improvements on the Brooklyn Bridge. As part of the project, the innermost Manhattan-bound vehicular lane on the Brooklyn Bridge will be removed and transformed into a two-way protected bike lane. Promised in the Mayor’s State of the City address in January to address the surge in cycling during the pandemic, the addition of protected bike lanes this year will be the first major reconfiguration of the landmarked bridge since 1950, when trolley tracks were permanently removed.
Motorists who normally access the Brooklyn Bridge from downtown Brooklyn are advised that they may have to adjust their commuting patterns both during and after construction. Beginning Monday evening, the right turn from westbound Tillary Street onto the Brooklyn Bridge will no longer be permitted. Combined with delays expected for the planned rehabilitation in the months ahead along the triple-cantilever section of the BQE, drivers are advised to seek alternate routes to Lower Manhattan, including using the Manhattan Bridge, the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel or by opting for cycling or mass transit. Construction of the new two-way protected bike path is expected to be completed by early fall.
“Bridges for the People is a beautiful reimagining of New York City’s most iconic bridge,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Before the Brooklyn Bridge was last reconfigured in 1950, it carried 400,000 New Yorkers every day—but completely replacing trolleys with car lanes reduced the number of daily bridge users by more than half. By adding new protected bike lanes on the bridge, we will finally begin to re-balance that equation, supporting more sustainable transportation for decades to come.”
“As more New Yorkers take up biking, safe bike lanes have become even more critical to our city’s recovery” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. “Adding a bike lane to the iconic Brooklyn Bridge will help ease bike traffic for tourists and commuters alike, while increasing safety for everyone.”
“The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the nation’s most beloved structures, will this year celebrate its 138th birthday,” said DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman. “Over that long history, the bridge has changed with the times – as horse-drawn carriages were replaced with trolleys, which were then retired with the advent of car lanes. In the coming months, we are going to transform this bridge we all love once again – this time with new bicycle lanes that invest in the bridge’s more sustainable future. We ask New Yorkers for their patience during construction, and encourage drivers to use other crossings into Manhattan. And of course, we look forward to the first bike ride this fall.”
The Brooklyn Bridge protected bike lane project was initially announced in January as part of the State of the City address, and builds on Mayor de Blasio's ambitious commitment to install a record 30 miles of protected bike lanes citywide in 2021. The creation of protected bike lanes on the roadway not only offers a safer and more seamless route along the bridge for cyclists, it will expand the dedicated space on the bridge’s promenade for pedestrians, who have numbered more than 10,000 on some days in recent years.
During construction, vehicular access to the bridge from downtown Brooklyn via Adams Street and Sands Street will still be permitted, and the promenade will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists. “No Turning” signs will be installed to remind motorists of the roadway changes. Diversions are expected to move traffic in Downtown Brooklyn to both bridges along Gold Street, Nassau Street and the Flatbush Avenue Extension.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Now we know what Mayor de Blasio's legacy will be 'I tried to get rid of cars coming into Manhattan but failed'.
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