New York Construction Report staff writer
Construction has begun on a $36.9 million rehabilitation project to replace the bridge deck and make structural improvements to the Fort Hamilton Parkway bridge over the Gowanus Expressway (Interstate 278).
The contract was awarded to El Sol Contracting – ES II Enterprises JV, a joint venture selected by the New York State Department of Transportation.
The bridge, built in 1964, links the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and Windsor Terrace. Planned upgrades include the replacement of the bridge deck, steel superstructure, bearings, piers and abutments. The project also includes new curb ramps to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as improved lighting on and beneath the structure.
A new protected bike lane will be added, connecting existing cycling infrastructure on Fort Hamilton Parkway and 7th Avenue. Travel lanes will be reconfigured to accommodate the bike lane while maintaining sidewalks and a parking lane.
Officials said the work is expected to extend the life of the bridge by at least 40 years. Construction is scheduled to be completed by summer 2027.
Motorists can expect long-term lane closures on the bridge. The left lane will be closed in the first phase, with traffic shifting to a newly completed left lane in the second phase while the right lane is closed. The parking lane will also be closed during construction, and drivers should expect lane shifts on the Gowanus Expressway.
The project is being overseen by the New York State Department of Transportation.
