The Washington Bridge, which connects Upper Manhattan to the Bronx over the Harlem River, has received a makeover complete with a new dedicated bus lane and a two-way protected bike lane, the city Department of Transportation announced on Monday.
The improvements span from Amsterdam Avenue in Washington Heights to University Avenue in the Bronx and are aimed at making the bridge safer for pedestrians and cyclists while also delivering faster bus service. Roughly 900 cyclists and 68,000 bus riders cross the bridge daily, according to the DOT.
Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the upgrades will increase accessibility and safety on the bridge for delivery workers as well as the communities on both sides of the river. Before the changes, pedestrians and cyclists had to share a narrow walkway on the bridge, risking collisions.
The bike path, which is located on the side of the bridge with Manhattan-bound car traffic, is now separated from cars by jersey barriers with fences attached to them. Cyclists can access the bridge via a protected path at Amsterdam Avenue and West 182nd Street, or one on Laurel Hill Terrace, officials said. Separate pedestrian paths — one on either side of the bridge — are also protected from bike and vehicular traffic by jersey barriers.