City completes renovation work on Washington Bridge

The city marks the completion of a renovation project on the Washington Bridge, which connects the communities of Washington Heights to the western Bronx.

Mejía.

“This is definitely the best thing they’ve done lately,” said Porfirio Mejía, a user of the cycle route.

Work has been completed to redesign the Washington Bridge Roadway, which now offers safe, sustainable and efficient transportation options between the Bronx and Manhattan, the city’s Department of Transportation announced today.

The department posted a message on social media about the renovation work on the bridge, stating:

“We just completed a MAJOR redesign of the Washington Bridge!

“This project includes a new bus lane and a protected two-way bike lane, making it safer and easier for the 68,000 bus riders and 900 bicyclists who use this vital connection between Manhattan and the Bronx every day,” the statement reads.

We just completed a MAJOR redesign of the Washington Bridge!

This project features a new bus lane & a two-way protected bike lane, making it safer & easier for the 68,000 daily bus riders & ~900 daily cyclists using this vital connection between Manhattan & the Bronx. pic.twitter.com/aSfHo35C5n

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) September 16, 2024

The project stretches from Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan to University Avenue in the Bronx and includes a redesign of the intersection leading to the bridge approach, a new bus lane and a dedicated bicycle lane protected by two-way barriers.

Every day, around 900 cyclists will benefit, as well as hundreds of pedestrians who will no longer have to share the lane.

In Washington Heights, pedestrians and bike lane users alike expressed delight at the change.

“At least when there was no such lane, when a bicycle or other type of vehicle came, such as ‘motorcycles’. So, one had to lean to one side to let the oncoming vehicle pass, to avoid a collision or a scrape,” said Leonardo Duarte.

They say that the cycle route also reduces travel time.

“That is to say, by car it takes me about 15 minutes, by bicycle, it takes about eight minutes,” added Mejía.

The Department of Transportation says it will continue to build connections at the George Washington Bridge to integrate this link with the Harlem River Greenway.

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