Construction is underway on the Fort Hamilton Parkway Bridge over the Gowanus Expressway (Interstate 278), a $36.9 million infrastructure project aimed at improving safety, accessibility and multimodal connectivity in Brooklyn.
Announced by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, the project will replace the bridge deck and steel superstructure, and upgrade bearings, piers and abutments.
Built in 1964, the bridge serves as a one-way northbound route linking Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and Windsor Terrace. Completion is expected by summer 2027.
“This important bridge rehabilitation will help preserve a vital link in Brooklyn’s transportation network while encouraging more sustainable ways to travel,” Hochul said in a statement.
The project includes reconfigured travel lanes to add a protected bike lane between Seventh Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway, while maintaining existing sidewalks and parking. Curb ramps will be updated to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and lighting upgrades are planned for both the street and bridge underdeck.
The work will proceed in phases, beginning with a long-term closure of the bridge’s left lane. The second phase will shift traffic to the new left lane, closing the right lane. The parking lane will also be closed, and lane shifts on the Gowanus Expressway are expected.
Elected officials and community leaders praised the long-awaited upgrades.
“These improvements will make it safer and easier for all of us to get around—whether we’re traveling by car, bus, bike, wheelchair, or on foot,” said State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, in a statement.
Source: Brooklynreporter.com, Newyorkimby.com
