Bath Beach residents demand answers as 17th Avenue Pedestrian Bridge remains frozen in time
The 17th Avenue pedestrian bridge has been closed for years, with no clear reopening date in sight.
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Residents of Bath Beach say a long-shuttered pedestrian bridge has left their neighborhood feeling “frozen in time.”
The 17th Avenue pedestrian bridge has been closed for years, with no clear reopening date in sight. What was once a convenient connection for locals has turned into a daily obstacle, forcing many to take lengthy detours just to reach nearby destinations.
At the site, half-finished concrete slabs remain untouched, a visible reminder of the stalled construction. For the past three years, residents have had to walk roughly half a mile out of their way to get around the closure.
“It's ridiculous. I’m not going to walk to the Cesar bazar or other side, it’s too far for me - I’m carrying a cane,” said Merek Szemiko.
The bridge was initially expected to reopen in fall 2023, but that timeline has been repeatedly pushed back, now landing sometime in 2025. According to sources, delays have been tied to complications stemming from the pandemic as well as issues with steel fabrication.
With the surrounding district already lacking sufficient park access, the prolonged closure has only added to frustrations. Community Board 11 has been pressing the Department of Transportation for updates.
"The steel and the other components are all being put together and will be brought here welded and put in place. And we are hopeful that it will be completed and given back to the community this fall," said Marnee Elias-Pavia, district manager for Community Board 11.
Still, many neighbors say the uncertainty has taken its toll.
"We don't know what's going on, and I don't feel good about it. We would like to get the bridge back here," said Tibor.
City officials say the goal is to reopen the bridge with major improvements, including new ramps and structural upgrades designed to make it safer and more accessible.
Once completed, the bridge is expected to better connect residents to the waterfront, something the community has been waiting years to regain.
