New curbs, crosswalks, pedestrian ramps and other features are complete at the corner of the Grand Concourse and E 187th Street. Image Credit: DDC.
On September 8, 2-23, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) celebrated the completion of the fourth phase of their multi-phase project to reconstruct the Grand Concourse in the Bronx.
The fourth phase of the project, which spanned from April 2020–June 2023 and cost $62.5 million, involved reconstructing E. 175th Street to Fordham Road. The third phase, which was completed in August 2020, previously rehabilitated Grand Concourse from E. 171st Street to E. 175th Street. And the fifth phase, which is expected to begin in 2024, will extend from E. Fordham Road north to E. 198th Street and further the agencies’ goal to reconstruct the entire boulevard.
Included in the reconstruction are safety and design changes that have been proven to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities. These enhancements include wider landscaped and planted medians to reduce pedestrian crossing time, as well as curb extensions, bollards and high-visibility crosswalks to further enhance pedestrian safety. Separated bicycle lanes along medians have also been added along the boulevard, as well as high-efficiency ornamental street lighting and new wayfinding signs. In addition, 299 pedestrian ramps and 83 new trees have been added to the street, and 13 older fire hydrants have been replaced.
To complete the project, nearly 388,000 square feet of sidewalks along Grand Concourse were replaced with more than 40,000 feet of new steel and concrete curbs, and another 406,000 square feet of new asphalt was used to repave the streets. Underground, more than 2,000 feet of water mains and sewers were replaced, and the number of catch basins in the area almost doubled from 53 to 105 to improve stormwater drainage.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson stated, “The Grand Concourse is one of the crown jewels of our borough that serves as a major throughway for our residents and families. With today’s announcement, we are one step closer to making the Grand Concourse safer for residents and visitors to the borough with high visibility crosswalks, curb extensions, and ornamental street lighting among some of the major changes to this historic corridor.”
DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stated, “Under Mayor Eric Adams, equity is central to all that we do, and the investment in the dramatic reconstruction of the Grand Concourse proves it… We are proud to now have the beautiful, tree-lined boulevard that Bronxites deserve, with so many new amenities – as well as the new bicycle lanes, traffic signals, and raised crosswalks that we know will make these communities safer.”
DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala stated, “The continued reconstruction of the Grand Concourse shows that Mayor Eric Adams and his administration are committed to improving the quality of life for Bronxites. To combat the extreme weather brought about by climate change and the flooding it can sometimes cause, we upgraded the roadway’s drainage network by doubling the number of catch basins that capture stormwater. Additionally, the newly added tree canopy will reduce urban heat island effect and provide shady respite for pedestrians and cyclists enjoying the enhanced, safer streetscape.”
By: Dylan Shusterman (Dylan is the CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2025.)
DDC: City Completes Grand Concourse Reconstruction From E. 175th St. to Fordham Road, September 8, 2023.