By SÍLE MOLONEY
Freshman from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy practicing their sailing skills at sunset where the East River and Long Island Sound meet. Whitestone, Queens and Midtown Manhattan are in the background. Taken from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy grounds, Kings Point, Long Island, New York.
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the NYPD have advised of the following street and bridge closures in The Bronx through 2026.
Bronx/Manhattan Bridge Closures
Madison Avenue Bridge over Harlem River Nov. 18-30, 2022
Single-lane traffic in both directions will be closed Monday to Friday from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The bridge will be fully closed Monday to Friday from 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. Bronx-bound traffic will be closed Saturday from 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. and Manhattan-bound traffic will be closed Saturday from 12:01 a.m. to 7 a.m. These closures will continue through Nov. 30, and are necessary to facilitate testing and rehabilitation. Motorists are advised to use the 145th Street Bridge as an alternate route.
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (RFK Bridge), through June 1, 2023
Single-lane traffic in each direction will be closed Monday to Friday from 10.30 p.m. to 5 a.m. next morning, Saturdays from 12 a.m. to 6.30 a.m., and Sundays from midnight to 11 a.m. on the FDR Drive/Harlem River Drive (HRD) in the vicinity of RFK Bridge. Also, Willis Avenue ramp from the FDR Drive/HRD, northbound lane, will partially be closed during these times. The closures will continue through June 1, 2023 to facilitate a new pedestrian walkway and fender rehabilitation.
As part of our Better Barriers pilot, we have installed low bus lane barriers on Edward L. Grant Hwy, Plimpton Ave to Nelson Ave in #theBronx. More to come at this location later this year. This pilot explores new materials to expand the #BetterBuses priority toolkit. pic.twitter.com/cNjXOfWU4r
— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) October 27, 2022
Bronx Street Closures
East 175th Street Bridge over Metro North Railroad: South sidewalk and single-lane adjacent to it on the East 175th Street Bridge will be closed through Dec. 30, 2022, to facilitate bridge rehabilitation. Traffic will be shifted to the north side and approximately five parking spaces immediate to the intersection will be removed.
East 191st Street between Morris Avenue and Creston Avenue: This street will be closed Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Nov. 27 for associated closure.
Andrews Avenue South between West 176 Street and West Tremont Avenue: This street will be closed Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays or Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 31, 2022, to facilitate crane operation.
Barker Avenue between Burke Avenue and Lester Street: This street will be closed Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 16, 2022, to facilitate concrete pouring operation.
Fox Street between Westchester Avenue and East 163rd Street: This street will be closed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays through Dec. 10, to facilitate crane operation.
Parkside Place between East 207th Street and East 209th Street: This street will be closed Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Dec. 23, 2022, to facilitate front loader operation.
Walton Avenue between East 175th Street and Henwood Place: This street will be closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays through Dec. 18, to facilitate crane operation.
Walton Avenue between Henwood Place and East 176th Street: This street will be closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, through Dec. 18, to facilitate crane operation.
Undercliff Avenue between Boscobel Place and Sedgwick Avenue: This street will be closed Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Dec. 11, 2022, to facilitate crane operation.
Lydig Avenue between Bolton Street and White Plains Road: This street will be closed Fridays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays through Nov. 27, for mainline track repairs.
Maran Place between Bronx Park East and White Plains Road: This street will be closed Fridays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays through Nov. 27, for mainline track repairs.
Morris Avenue between East 190th Street and East 191st Street: This street will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 27, for associated closure.
Creston Avenue between East 191st Street and East 190th Street: This street will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 27, to facilitate crane operation.
Creston Avenue between East 191st Street and East 192nd Street: This street will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 27, to facilitate crane operation.
Grand Concourse Bridge over Metro North Railroad Hudson Line between 151st Street and 153rd Street: Traffic lanes will be shifted while the construction progresses from northbound lanes to southbound lanes Monday to Friday from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Dec. 31, to facilitate watermains work. One crosswalk at a time will be closed at the intersection. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained at all times.
Meanwhile, Bronx Community Board 7 advises that SKF General Contractors, LLC has announced it be fully closing the roadway to use a front loader for soil delivery and backfilling at the new building construction project at 3254 Parkside Place between East 207th Street and East 209th Street in Norwood from Nov. 25 to Dec. 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Image courtesy of DOT
In addition, NYSDOT officials said there will be some changes to traffic flow on the Major Deegan Expressway (MDE). The department advises motorists of long-term, right travel lane closures on the southbound MDE (I-87) in the vicinity of Exit 3 (East 138th Street/Madison Avenue Bridge) and on northbound MDE in the vicinity of Exit 3 (Grand Concourse/East 138th Street) in the Bronx through approximately fall of 2024.
Variable Message Signs (VMS) will be in place to alert motorists of these closures. Motorists are also advised that inclement weather could cause the start of these closures to be rescheduled. The closures are needed to facilitate work on NYSDOT’s $47 million project to replace the 80-year-old bridge carrying East 138th Street over the MDE.
Image courtesy of DOT
Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.
NYSDOT further advises motorists of changes in traffic patterns on the southbound and northbound MDE (I-87) between Exit 5 (East 161st Street/Macombs Dam Bridge) and Exit 7 (Cross Bronx Expressway/New Haven/Trenton) in The Bronx. DOT officials said these changes in traffic patterns and long-term closure are needed to facilitate work on NYSDOT’s $119 million MDE rehabilitation project, which is reconstructing the MDE in both directions between Exit 5 and Exit 7.
Southbound: All travel lanes will be shifted to the left of the work zone, on through approximately the end of 2022.
Source: New York State Department of Transportation
Northbound: All travel lanes will provide access to northbound and southbound I-95 and northbound I-87. The right northbound travel lane will be shifted to Sedgwick Avenue, which will provide access to the I-95, local streets, and I-87 via local streets. This change in traffic pattern will take place through approximately the end of 2022.
Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.
This fall, NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) will begin Better Buses transit and safety improvements on University Avenue from Tremont Avenue to Kingsbridge Road in The Bronx. According to DOT, this work will improve pedestrian safety, improve bike safety and increase bus speeds. See attached flier below for more information.
Flier courtesy of DOT
As reported, and as a reminder, since Aug. 1, 2022, tickets are being issued to drivers who breach the 25 mph citywide speed limit by exceeding the posted speed limits by more than 10 mph. Speed cameras are now in operation 24/7/365.
For all New Yorkers and the reasons we are out at night and on weekends. #VisionZero
Beginning today 8/1 at 10PM for the first time, NYC’s 2,000 speed cameras will help keep New Yorkers safe 24/7/365.#Drive25 and always yield to pedestrians and cyclists. pic.twitter.com/Qq7XaiWGll
— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) August 1, 2022
NYC Department of Design & Construction (DDC) advises the public of a simple pedestrian ramp rehabilitation that is taking place in The Bronx and in Queens during the fourth quarter of 2022. See attached notice below for more information.
Flier courtesy of DDC.
NYC Department of Design & Construction also provided the following weekly update on the Bainbridge Avenue construction project from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2.
Source: NYC Department of Design & Construction
NYC Department of Environmental Protection provided the following reconstruction newsletter for the Jerome Park Reservoir and Aqueduct Rehabilitation project which is ongoing through December 2026.
Source: NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
In addition, DDC also announced a 24-hour, temporary, no-parking rule on the east side of Jerome Avenue, between Shandler Road and East 233rd Street, starting Friday, Oct. 14.
Flier courtesy of DDC
DDC also announced a two-way traffic reopening on Bainbridge Avenue on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, from East Gun Hill Road and Jerome Avenue and Bainbridge intersection.
Flier courtesy of NYC Department of Design & Construction
Additionally, DDC has advised that there will be no parking (24/7) on a temporary basis on the east curb of Phelan Place, effective Oct. 5. See below flier for more information.
Flier courtesy of NYC Department of Design & Construction
NYC Department of Design & Construction has also announced no parking on Phelan Place, between Billingsley Terrace and West Burnside Avenue, starting Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022, 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Flier courtesy of NYC Department of Design & Construction
Meanwhile, the MTA has advised of the following repairs on the D line that are ongoing from July 2022 through 2023.
Source: MTA
From August 2022, NYC DOT will make ongoing safety improvements on White Plains Road from East 226th Street to East 241st Street in Wakefield. The work adds protected bike lanes, shortens pedestrian crossings, improves accessibility, and upgrades corridor markings. See attached flier below for more information.
Flier courtesy of NYC DOT
Notice of Replacement of Trunk Water Mains, Rehabilitation of Sewers in Norwood and Woodlawn Heights
NYC Department of Design and Construction advises that the replacement of the trunk and distribution water mains and a rehabilitation of the sewers continues to take place in Norwood and Woodlawn Heights during the fourth quarter of 2022. See attached fliers for more information.
Flier courtesy of NYC Department of Design and Construction
Flier courtesy of NYC Department of Design and Construction
Curbside Parking
There will be restrictions to curbside parking and sidewalk access for certain community districts from Oct. 4, 2021 until Summer 2023, at certain times. See attached flyer below for more details.
Flyer courtesy of Bronx Community Board 7 / NYC DDC
Bronx Bus Redesign
As reported, the Bronx bus redesign plan was initiated in 2019 by New York City Transit (an agency of the MTA) and the final plan was made available here: https://new.mta.info/bronxbusredesign, while the final plan addendum (published in November 2021) was made available here. Comments from the public were submitted here: https://mta-nyc.custhelp.com/app/comments_bronxbus. On December 15, 2021, the MTA Board of Directors adopted the Bronx Local Bus Network Redesign Final Plan. The staff summary and Board proceedings are available for review by clicking on the hyperlinks provided. Earlier this year, preparations got underway to roll out the borough-wide plan, as reported. On Tuesday, June 21, the MTA formally announced the go-live date of June 26 during a press conference held at Fordham Plaza.
Source: MTA
Dirt Bikes & Scooters
NYPD reminds residents that dirt bikes are illegal. See attached flyer below. Also, if your scooter has an electric or gas motor with no vehicle ID number, then it is illegal and cannot be driven or sold. Violators could face fines and vehicles will be seized by police.
Flyer courtesy of the NYPD
Motorized scooters in New York City are illegal. See below flier for more information.
Flier courtesy of NYC Department of Transportation
For real-time travel information, motorists should check New York State’s official traffic and travel information source, 511NY, before traveling. Call 5-1-1, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app on iTunes or Google Play. The free service allows users to check road conditions, view traffic cameras and link to air and transit information. The app features Drive mode, which provides audible alerts along a chosen route while a user is driving, warning them about incidents and construction.
Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.
For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.