The state will spend about $37 million to fix the bridge carrying Fort Hamilton Parkway over the Gowanus Expressway, which includes adding safety enhancements for pedestrians and cyclists.
Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday said work is underway on a $36.9 million project to rehabilitate the bridge that connects Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge. The project will replace the bridge deck, make structural improvements and add new, protected lane for bicyclists that will connect to existing bike lanes on Fort Hamilton Parkway and 7th Avenue.
Travel lanes will be reconfigured to accommodate the new, protected bicycle lane while also maintaining the existing parking lane and sidewalks. Curb ramps will also be upgraded to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and street and underdeck lighting will be upgraded.
“The rehabilitation of this important bridge along the Fort Hamilton Parkway will help preserve a vital link in Brooklyn’s transportation network while also making it easier for people to get out of their cars and travel by bike across the borough," Hochul said in a statement.
Fort Hamilton Parkway stretches from 101 Street in Bay Ridge and continues to Machate Circle just southwest of Prospect Park in Windsor Terrace. The project is expected to extend the service life of the bridge, built in 1964, in the western portion of the parkway by at least 40 years.
To accommodate construction, motorists should expect the long-term closure of the left lane during the first phase of construction. During the second phase of construction, the right lane will be closed as traffic will shift to the new left lane on the bridge. During construction, the parking lane will also be closed and drivers should expect lane shifts on the Gowanus Expressway.
The project is expected to be completed by summer 2027.
