Kosciuszko Bridge’s second span expected to open in September

The second span of the Kosciuszko Bridge, which will serve Brooklyn-bound traffic, is expected to open in September, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Two years ago, Cuomo unveiled the first stretch of the bridge, which currently features three lanes on each side, and is located to the east of the old Kosciuszko Bridge. That was demolished two years ago to be replaced with this new span. Part of a $873 million project, the bridge is the first one built in New York City since the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge opened to traffic in 1964.

“This is going to be the first new bridge built in New York since the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in 1964, so it is special in many ways,” Cuomo said in a statement.

“We advanced the schedule and we’re saving four years, which is critical because an entire generation has grown up without seeing really new, dramatic, big projects getting done.” he added.

Right now, the bridge is carrying approximately 200,000 commuters daily with three lanes in each direction of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE), but once the new Brooklyn-bound span opens in September, it will be reserved for Queens-bound traffic.

The new Brooklyn-bound bridge opening in September will have four travel lanes—plus a 20-foot-wide bikeway/walkway—and the previously opened Queens-bound will have five.