Current (T) and future (B) design of the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian and cyclist entrance in Manhattan. Credit: NYC DOT
NEW YORK - Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn announced that the City will begin a critical street redesign project this spring to permanently improve bike and pedestrian access to the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan. The new design builds on prior Mamdani administration efforts to expand accessibility and strengthen infrastructure ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
The project will add a new, dedicated bike connection to the bridge along Centre Street at its Manhattan entrance, creating fully separate bike and pedestrian access for the first time. Work will begin in the coming weeks and be completed ahead of the tournament's June start, dramatically improving access to one of the City's most congested areas.
"Since taking office, our administration has been guided by a simple promise: streets that are safe and accessible for every New Yorker," said Mayor Mamdani. "Whether you're driving, walking or biking across the Brooklyn Bridge, you deserve to get where you're going with ease and without fear. This new design will better protect cyclists and pedestrians as we prepare to welcome the world for the FIFA World Cup - and show that our streets truly reflect the best of New York City."
"Separating bike and pedestrian traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge has been an unmitigated success. But cyclists and pedestrians are still forced to navigate around each other as they enter and exit the bridge in Manhattan - and that disorder would only get worse this summer when we expect a massive increase in visitors to this iconic landmark," said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. "This redesign will build on the success of the bridge's protected bike lane and greatly improve the experience for pedestrians and cyclists visiting the Brooklyn Bridge, creating more organized access ahead of the surge in visitors this summer for the World Cup."
"As we prepare for millions of visitors this summer for the World Cup, New Yorkers can expect a number of permanent improvements to our streetscapes that will make our streets safer and more accessible long after the tournament ends," said World Cup Czar Maya Handa. "Our goal is to ensure that whether it's through improved streets or neighborhood activations throughout the summer, all New Yorkers benefit from the World Cup."
