At last, after years of hype, the long-awaited West Thames Pedestrian Bridge has finally broke ground. So the reality of it is this: we really shouldn’t be celebrating that this project is just now breaking ground when the whole damn thing should have been finished by now, but something is better than nothing, right?
Designs for the severely-stalled bridge were released back in 2013, which was already several years after the idea was conceptualized and given the green light. After scrapping the original design by SHoP Architects, Weidlinger Associates and WXY Architecture was helmed for the $27.5 million project. Yet one delay after another led to stalled construction commencement and several opening date push-backs.
Once complete, the bridge will span 230 feet across West Street and will replace the current Rector Street Pedestrian Bridge, providing access from Battery Park City to the Financial District.
According to the Battery Park City Authority, the bridge is scheduled for completion in mid-2018.