After a decade of planning and building, the long awaited pedestrian bridge of Lower Manhattan will finally be opening to the public this fall.

West Thames Street Pedestrian Bridge will permanently replace the Rector Street bridge by the World Trade Center, says the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). Rector Street Pedestrian Bridge was designed by SHoP Architects following the 9/11 attacks as a temporary fix for New Yorkers after the attacks destroyed two other bridges in the area.

The new $45 million West Thames Street bridge will span 230 feet between Battery Park City and the Financial District, above West Street and Hudson River Greenway. It’s been designed by WXY Architecture and Urban Design, in collaboration with Weidlinger Associates, to last 75 years and is already visible. The bridge was set during the spring but won’t be ready for the public until fall due to the necessary inspections and testing prior to opening.

President and CEO of NYCEDC, James Patchett, said in a statement:

“The West Thames Street Pedestrian Bridge is a welcome addition to New York City’s landscape and will improve connectivity between the Financial District and Battery Park City. The bridge will help support Lower Manhattan’s economic vitality and enhance the community fabric.”

The President of the Alliance of New York, Jessica Lappin, added that:

“Everyone in Lower Manhattan is looking forward to the completion of this bridge. This is one of the many physical milestones that will continue to illustrate our neighborhood’s recovery. It’s been proposed that the bridge will soon be renamed in honor of Alliance founding chairman Robert R. Douglass, and as Bob did for decades, we look forward to this bridge playing a major role in connecting and uniting the Lower Manhattan community.”

An exact date for the West Thames Street Pedestrian Bridge opening has not been announced.

featured image source: NYCEDC

Also published on Medium.