Pedestrian Span at Dyre Avenue Over Northbound Lanes Will Be Removed and Replaced

Free Bus Shuttle Service Will Be Provided Throughout the Weekend

Lane Closures and Traffic Stops Will Occur After 10 PM on Friday and Saturday

Motorists May Wish to Seek Alternate Routes to Avoid Delays

The New York State Thruway Authority today announced that work to remove and replace the superstructure of the Dyre Avenue pedestrian bridge over the northbound lanes of the New England Thruway (I-95) in the Bronx will require overnight lane closures and traffic stops in the northbound direction on Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6, weather permitting. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes during this weekend to avoid potential travel delays. A free bus shuttle service will be provided while the pedestrian bridge is closed.

The new Dyre Avenue span will replace the 60-year-old superstructure—the steel beams, concrete deck, and fencing—above I-95 and adjacent to Baychester Avenue to the east and a New England Thruway service road to the west. The pedestrian bridge is located just south of I-95 exit 13 (Conner Street - Baychester Avenue). Measuring 101 feet in length, the clearance height will be raised from a minimum of 14 feet 2 inches to 15 feet 6 inches. The bridge’s superstructure will be removed in two separate overnight operations—over the northbound and southbound lanes, respectively—on different weekends.

The bridge replacement is part of the Thruway Authority’s $61.8 million pavement improvement project on a four-mile stretch of I-95 in the Bronx and Westchester County that began in spring 2023. Most of the work is taking place in the Bronx and includes the rehabilitation of 11 ramps/bridges and the replacement of two pedestrian bridges’ superstructures. Crews replaced the 222nd Street pedestrian bridge over the northbound lanes during the weekend of March 16-17. Residents utilized a free bus shuttle throughout the weekend.

The Dyre Avenue span will close to pedestrian traffic at 10 p.m. on Friday, April 5, and reopen no later than 10 p.m. on Sunday, April 7. The bridge may open earlier; check the Thruway Authority’s social media platforms for real time updates on the reopening.

At 10 p.m. Friday, crews will close the left northbound lane near the Dyre Avenue bridge. At 11:30 p.m., both the left and center lanes approaching the work zone will be closed to allow crews to set up equipment, including a crane and flatbed trailer. The double lane closures are expected to last until 7 a.m. on Saturday, with all northbound lanes reopening by 11 a.m.

During the overnight operation, crews will dismantle the bridge’s bolts, rig the superstructure to a crane, then lift and place it onto a flatbed trailer on I-95. New York City police will stop and hold traffic during the lift for the safety of motorists and workers. The traffic stop is expected to last less than 20 minutes.

Crews will install the new span late Saturday night into Sunday morning with the left lane closing at 10 p.m. Saturday and both the left and center northbound lanes closing around midnight. A 20-minute traffic stop will be implemented overnight to allow for cranes to safely lift the new span into place. The remainder of the work will take place on the bridge itself and should not impact traffic on I-95. The center lane is expected to reopen by 9 a.m. and all travel lanes are expected to reopen by 11 a.m. Sunday.

Variable Message Signs on the Thruway and surrounding highways are advising motorists of the upcoming work. While the pedestrian bridge is closed, the public can take a free bus shuttle service.

• On the east side of the bridge, the shuttle will pick up and drop off passengers at 1000 Baychester Ave. near the foot of the bridge.
• On the west side, the shuttle will stop at 2195 New England Thruway Service Road.

The shuttle will operate every 15 minutes, traveling between the two stops. Signs advising residents of the upcoming closure and free service have been installed along both sides of the Dyre Avenue bridge.

Weather permitting, crews will remove and replace the pedestrian bridge over I-95’s southbound lanes in the coming weeks. More details will be provided once the timing is confirmed.

Restani Construction Corp., of Queens, N.Y., is the project contractor.

The Authority’s approved 2024 Budget invests a total of $451 million to support its Capital Program, which is scheduled to invest $2.4 billion into capital projects over the next five years—a $500 million increase compared to the 2023 Budget. The increased investment will lead to work on approximately half of the Thruway’s more than 2,800 lane miles as well as projects on approximately 90 of Thruway’s 817 bridges.

Motorists are urged to be alert, follow the posted work zone speed limits, and are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.

For up-to-date travel information, motorists are encouraged to download its mobile app which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic and navigation assistance while on the go.

Travelers can also visit the Thruway Authority's interactive Traveler Map which features live traffic cameras. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails, which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway.

###