The Rector St. pedestrian bridge will close for about 10 weeks starting Mon., July 13.
The State Dept. of Transportation is closing the bridge to reconfigure the stairs on the east side so that they fit into the rebuilt Route 9A. The D.O.T. will also make the steps less steep and improve the railings and lighting. At the same time, the Battery Park City Authority will do work on the bridge and its west side, making similar improvements.
During the closure, pedestrians will be able to cross West St. at grade at Albany St. and W. Thames St. Some residents and workers have expressed concerns that the street-level crossings are dangerous, particularly after a 26-year-old woman was killed crossing the highway at Albany St. earlier this year. State D.O.T. has straightened the crosswalk since then and is further enlarging it in preparation for the Rector bridge closure. Pedestrians can also travel several blocks north to cross via the Liberty St. bridge.
The Rector St. bridge was installed temporarily after 9/11 and has already remained in place far longer than anticipated. The Battery Park City Authority recently unveiled a concept for a new pedestrian bridge at W. Thames St., which would allow the Rector St. bridge to come down, but the new bridge is still in the early planning stages.
