Upgrades Coming To Both Sides Of The Brooklyn Bridge

TWO BRIDGES, NY — Upgrades are coming to pedestrian and bike connections on both sides of the Brooklyn Bridge this year, the mayor's office confirmed on Tuesday.

Pedestrians and cyclists have long complained about getting on and off and the Brooklyn Bridge, describing the entryways as dangerous for all travelers. Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday that in addition to the ongoing construction on the Brooklyn-side pathway to the bridge, the Manhattan side would get a two-way protected bike lane and other improvements.

De Blasio announced these upgrades along with a slew of other construction initiatives designed to make city streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. He gave the green light to more than a dozen projects that are part of his "Vision Zero" plan, a $1.6 billion citywide project working to lower traffic accidents and fatalities. De Blasio said Tuesday that the coming construction projects would bring crosswalks, sidewalks and protected bike lanes to areas in all five boroughs, according to a statement from his office.

The improvements coming to the bridge are among the most highly-anticipated. The entrance to the Brooklyn side, where construction is ongoing, is getting a new promenade for cyclists and pedestrians crossing the bridge as well as new crosswalks and medians. The troublesome spot has seen 482 people injured, 23 of them seriously, and one person killed over the last five years, according to de Blasio's office. The Manhattan entrance is getting better bike and pedestrian connections to the bridge as a well as a small, two-way bike lane in front of City Hall, the mayor's office said. Construction is scheduled to begin this spring.

"Dangerous streets have to change," de Blasio said in a statement. "We want to get the word out: we’re moving lanes, adding new space for pedestrians and making it safer to cross intersections—all to keep your family safe. These changes have helped make each of the last three years under Vision Zero safer than the last."

Lead image rendering via the Department of Transportation.