New state DOT proposal aims to repair Cross Bronx Expressway without expanding it
The state is working on a $900 million project to renovate the five bridges along the expressway.
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As the state continues to figure out how to improve the decades-old Cross Bronx Expressway, there’s a proposal that local environmental groups are hopeful will be less disruptive to the community.
The state is working on a $900 million project to renovate the five bridges along the expressway. At first, organizations say the New York State Department of Transportation suggested temporarily building a wide, elevated multilane roadway alongside the Cross Bronx while construction to the main road is going on, something that faced immediate pushback from the community. Recently, new renderings online showed a new option for a much smaller, shared use path instead.
Environmental groups, like Loving The Bronx and Bronx River Alliance, are against any option that would expand the highways even temporarily because it would potentially cut through neighborhoods, add more pollution and disrupt access to local parks.
"The bridges are dangerous. It needs to be rebuilt. Understood. Definitely,” said Victoria Toro, an organizer with Bronx River Alliance and Parkchester native. “Why can't some of that money go towards improving how that highway impacts our health, environment, and the air we breathe?"
“In our coalition we've come to the idea that we can improve the community without adding another elevated structure.” added fellow Bronx River community organizer, Daniel Ranells.
NYSDOT told News 12 the agency is “committed to robust community engagement at every step in the process and the selection of an alternative will be informed and guided by public input. The evaluation process is ongoing and no final decisions have been made. The evaluation process will be documented in the Draft Design Report/Environmental Assessment (DR/EA), which will be released for public review and comment.”
