NYSDOT Drops Elevated Road Plan for Cross Bronx Expressway After Community Outcry

Community pressure wins: NYSDOT abandons controversial elevated road plan. Bridge repairs now take priority in $900 million Cross Bronx Expressway project.

, and Administrator

2025 October 19 . 6:03 PM

1 min read

In this picture I can see there is a road and there are few vehicles moving on the road and there... — In this picture I can see there is a road and there are few vehicles moving on the road and there are few people walking on the zebra crossing and there is arch in the backdrop and there are few buildings on both sides of the road and there is a traffic light here and the sky is clear.

NYSDOT Drops Elevated Road Plan for Cross Bronx Expressway After Community Outcry

New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has scrapped plans for an elevated diversion road along the Cross Bronx Expressway. The move comes after intense community opposition and environmental concerns. The $900 million highway rehabilitation project is set to commence next year.

NYSDOT has shifted focus to the reconstruction and repair of deteriorating bridges. A one-mile stretch of the Cross Bronx Expressway will see the rehabilitation of five bridges. The department is now considering alternative options for the Cross Bronx Bridges Project.

Initially, plans included building a temporary bypass highway during reconstruction. However, community advocates and elected officials protested, arguing that the elevated diversion road would exacerbate congestion and decrease the tree canopy in the Bronx. Critics also pointed out that highway pollution already contributes to high asthma rates in the area.

NYSDOT has abandoned plans for the elevated diversion road, prioritizing bridge repairs instead. The $900 million project is scheduled to begin next year. The department will now explore alternative options for the Cross Bronx Bridges Project, aiming to address community concerns and environmental impacts.