Fourth phase complete on schedule and on budget; entire boulevard being rebuilt with safety enhancements, better pedestrian access
Bronx, NY – September 8, 2023 – Today, El Comisioner Ydanis Rodriguez from the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), along with government colleagues from the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC), joined community members and local elected officials in celebrating the successful completion of the reconstruction of Grand Concourse in the Bronx from E. 175th Street to Fordham Road. This marks the fourth phase of a comprehensive program aimed at rebuilding the entire boulevard with a strong focus on safety enhancements, improved pedestrian access, and additional features including bike lanes, bollards, wider medians, and enhanced street lighting. DDC expertly managed the project on behalf of DOT and DEP.
The revitalized Grand Concourse segment from E. 175th Street to Fordham Road now boasts new curbs, crosswalks, pedestrian ramps, lighting, and a host of other safety enhancements. This phase of the reconstruction commenced in April 2020 and was completed in June 2023, both ahead of schedule and on budget, with a total cost of $62.5 million. Phase 3, which rehabilitated the Grand Concourse from E. 171st Street to E. 175th Street, was successfully completed in August 2020. Phase 5, extending from E. Fordham Road north to E. 198th St., is scheduled to commence construction in mid-2024.
«Under Mayor Eric Adams, equity is central to all that we do, and the investment in the dramatic reconstruction of the Grand Concourse proves it,» declared NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. «With special thanks to our colleagues at DDC, we are proud to now have the beautiful, tree-lined boulevard that Bronxites deserve, with so many new amenities – as well as the new bicycle lanes, traffic signals, and raised crosswalks that we know will make these communities safer.»
«The continued reconstruction of the Grand Concourse shows that Mayor Eric Adams and his administration are committed to improving the quality of life for Bronxites,» emphasized DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala.
«DDC is proud to celebrate the completion of Grand Concourse Phase 4 street reconstruction and underground infrastructure upgrades project in collaboration with our colleagues at DOT and DEP,» remarked NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley. «This project makes this ‘Great Street’ safer for pedestrians and bikers and includes many tools in the City’s engineering toolbox – all delivered on-time and on-budget for this Bronx community.»
Project Details
The safety and design enhancements implemented along the Grand Concourse as part of the Great Streets program have been proven to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities. Under Vision Zero, the number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured (KSI) on the corridor has significantly decreased. Between 2012-2016, before operational changes were introduced, pedestrian KSI along the street was 12.8 per mile, designating it as a Vision Zero Priority Corridor. During the 2017-2021 period, with the inclusion of safety improvements through the Great Streets reconstruction, this number decreased by 40 percent to 7.7 per mile.
A major change under the Great Streets initiative has been the addition of separated bicycle lanes along medians. New, wider landscaped and planted medians were introduced to reduce pedestrian crossing time, while curb extensions, bollards, and high-visibility crosswalks were installed to further enhance pedestrian safety. High-efficiency ornamental street lighting preserves the historic character of the boulevard, while new wayfinding signs assist in directing people to their destinations.
Work included the replacement of almost 388,000 square feet (8.9 acres) of sidewalks along the Grand Concourse, along with more than 40,000 feet (7.59 miles) of new steel and concrete curbs. An additional 406,000 square feet (9.3 acres) of new asphalt was used to repave the streets. A total of 299 ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps were also installed.
Underground, over 2,000 feet of water mains and sewers were replaced, and the number of catch basins in the area nearly doubled, from 53 to 105, significantly improving stormwater drainage. A total of 83 new trees were added, and 13 older fire hydrants were replaced with new ones.
«I want to thank The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) for the reconstruction of Grand Concourse in the Bronx from E. 175th Street to Fordham Road,» expressed Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia. «The investment of $62.5 million represents the rebuilding of the entire boulevard with safety features, improved pedestrian access, and additional enhancements such as bike lanes, bollards, wider medians, and better street lighting.»
