By outdoor-nature-child.com In a recent gathering on the Manhattan side of the Ed Koch-Queensboro Bridge, community leaders and transportation advocacy groups rallied together to urge the city government to expedite the conversion of the south outer roadway into a dedicated pedestrian walkway.
Currently, only the north side of the Queensboro Bridge features a mixed-use path for pedestrians and cyclists, forcing them to share a narrow roadway. This arrangement not only hampers traffic flow but also poses significant safety risks. Both former Mayor Bill de Blasio and current Mayor Eric Adams had previously committed to opening a section of the south outer roadway for pedestrian use, allowing pedestrians and cyclists separate paths. However, this plan has faced considerable delays.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) began construction on the pedestrian walkway in July and has completed the installation of new safety barriers. Though the initial timeline promised that the walkway would be finished by the end of summer, the DOT later indicated that it may not open until this winter. A spokesperson cited delays due to damage sustained by a panel component during transportation, which has impacted the coordination of repairs needed for the upper roadway of the bridge.
The Queensboro Bridge is the only bridge connecting Queens and Manhattan that accommodates both pedestrians and cyclists. Recent statistics reveal that approximately 219,000 cyclists crossed the bridge in September, averaging about 7,300 cyclists per day. The bridge ranks second in cyclist traffic among the city’s three borough-to-borough bridges, only surpassed by the Williamsburg Bridge.
In response to the safety concerns posed by the mixed-use pathway, the Manhattan Community Board 6 recently passed a resolution urging the DOT to finalize the conversion and open the pedestrian-only lane. On October 13, the advocacy group Transportation Alternatives held a rally at the bridge, marching along the south outer roadway to call on authorities to accelerate the sidewalk project. Notable attendees included state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, state Senator Jessica Ramos, city council member Julie Won, and state Senator Kristen Gonzalez from Manhattan.
Once the pedestrian walkway opens, the south outer roadway will no longer be available for vehicle use. John, a local driver who frequently uses the Queensboro Bridge, explained that the less-known south outer roadway often serves as a quick detour during heavy congestion on the upper lanes. He acknowledged that losing this “secret route” would be inconvenient for drivers but emphasized that creating a safer passage for pedestrians would outweigh any complaints.