Section Of 'The Arches' Opens Under the Brooklyn Bridge In Manhattan

NEW YORK CITY — Sections of public space on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge known as “The Arches" officially reopened on Monday.

The area opening had served as a contractor staging area for the last decade, supporting restoration of the Brooklyn Bridge, officials said.

The newest “Arches” space returns 1/3-acre of space to the community – with access to more than a dozen tall shade trees, including oaks, elms, and Japanese pagoda trees. Sixteen park benches, many with views of the adjacent historic bridge, have also been restored and installed around the space.

"For the last decade, NYC DOT crews have worked hard to restore the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, creating a cleaner, brighter, and safer bridge to last us another century,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Now that this critical restoration is nearing a close, we are returning another portion of ‘The Arches’ to the community. For residents of and visitors to Lower Manhattan and Chinatown, even small public spaces are precious – and we will continue working with the community to open even more of the Arches in the months ahead.”

Earlier sections of that public space, which serve to physically connect the Bridge to Chinatown, were opened last year to honor the 140th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge’s opening.

“Public space in Manhattan is precious – every acre counts for the people who live, work in, and visit our bustling metropolis,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi.

The largest sections of the Arches area have yet to be re-opened – and NYC DOT has begun a local engagement process, which includes community board meetings and visioning sessions to be held before the end of this year.

In September, the agency also applied to US DOT seeking a federal grant to fund the next sections of the Arches project under the Reconnecting Communities Pilot, created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. That pilot specifically targets projects designed to “reinstitute community connectivity.”

The agency awaits a decision on an award.