More than four miles of bike lanes and new pedestrian space will be built in the Bronx this year as part of a NYC street improvement project, city officials announced on Thursday.
NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) crews have started construction on the Harlem River Greenway, a massive street redesign aimed at connecting Bronx residents to scenic waterfront areas through open space and bike paths.
The city will install more than four lane miles of “on-street protected bike lanes” to build out the anticipated greenway. A similar project has already been completed in the Highbridge neighborhood of the borough, and construction is underway on a new waterfront park in the South Bronx, called Lower Concourse Park, city officials said.
All of these projects will be part of a broader seven-mile greenway stretching from Van Cortlandt Park to Randall’s Island Park that will have more open space and bike routes.
There is no official date yet on when the seven-mile stretch will open.
It is unknown if the projects will replace any parts of existing car-driving lanes.
DOT said it spoke with community members in both English and Spanish at over 30 events throughout the project’s planning process.
“These projects better connect Bronx residents to their waterfront and beautiful parks while also bringing dramatic safety upgrades and establishing new commuting routes for cyclists,” DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said. “Each project reflects feedback we’ve received from residents at our workshops and we’re excited to get to work to start quickly building out the greenway, with more upgrades to come.”
DOT also said that it installed the first 2025 greenway project along the Depot Place and Exterior Street ramp in Highbridge. As part of the redesign, there is now a connection for cyclists and pedestrians to cross over the Major Deegan Expressway and Metro-North tracks to access the river waterfront’s Bridge Park and Roberto Clemente State Park.
NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donogue said the projects will make the Bronx “greener and healthier” for residents.
“Our city’s greenways and bike paths allow New Yorkers to get fresh air and exercise away from vehicle traffic, connect with other areas of the city, and interact with our incredible parks and green spaces,” she said. “The expansion of bike lanes for the Harlem River Greenway is filling important gaps in our biking infrastructure in the outer boroughs, while making the Bronx greener and healthier.”
NYC Economic and Development Corporation President and CEO Andrew Kimball called the project “long-deserved” waterfront access.
“The Harlem River Greenway is going to become the next great greenway for New Yorkers and a cherished public amenity for the community,” he said.
DOT officials said it is working on additional projects throughout the city to “calm traffic, increase safety, improve traffic flow and continue to build out the largest bike network in the country.”
