South Bronx opens up to the waterfront

A US$1.8bn project is going to reunify the South Bronx communities with the Starlight Park and the Bronx River waterfront.

For decades, South Bronx had been deprived of any chance of dynamization. The culprit? The Sheridan Expressway, that locks inhabitants away from the riverside. But this will soon be history as New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo has unveiled a huge initiative set to literally redesign the whole borough.

The project, which will comprise several phases, will consist in rebuilding the Bruckner-Sheridan Interchange and in replacing the Sheridan Expressway with a boulevard safe for pedestrians and cyclists. This way, local dwellers will be able to rally directly Starlight Park and the Bronx River Waterfront Greenway. The Bronx River will be crossed by a pedestrian bridge that will connect Starlight Park to a path across the river. People will also benefit from a direct access to the Hunts Point Market, the local economic lifeline.

On top of the functional aspect of the project, the aesthetics has not been overlooked as the boulevard will integrate landscaping and decorative lighting. Probably nothing excessive for an area which is widely considered unattractive.

This intervention should create over 4,000 jobs.