man jumps off skyway bridge 2021 buffalo ny

MAN JUMPS OFF SKYWAY BRIDGE 2021 BUFFALO NY PLUS

It serves approximately 46,000 vehicles daily, including an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 trucks and commercial vehicles.ĭespite its heavy use, a push continues to take down the span in order to allow for new and continued development on the waterfront and outer harbor areas. Today, the Skyway remains in service as a primary transportation link from downtown Buffalo to the south towns.

MAN JUMPS OFF SKYWAY BRIDGE 2021 BUFFALO NY PLUS

The span first opened in the early 1950s to serve the transit needs of a then-growing metro region plus numerous waterfront interests, including a large steel industry, related coke manufacturing, forge plants, flour-milling operations and ship-building/maritime facilities. “We will make these investments at a time when the interest rates are low and when New Yorkers are looking for work,” he said.As the New York State Department of Transportation continues its extensive review on the future of this heavily used waterfront span with a push for demolition, the debate in Buffalo-Niagara continues. Upstate, Cuomo said an elevated walkway will be completed along the Hudson River in Albany, the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester will be expanded and a Legoland theme park will open in the Hudson Valley. Cuomo also wants to continue the Second Avenue subway into Harlem and complete a third track on the Long Island Railroad. He also wants to expand the Javits convention center by 50% and extend the popular High Line walkway. The Skyway was just one of $300 billion worth of infrastructure projects announced by the governor. If all is said and done, crews could begin tearing down the Skyway by late this year. Costing nearly $600 million, Higgins said money could come from his $1.6 trillion infrastructure bill, which he hopes to get passed by mid-year. So all of that is being anticipated to the fullest extent that it can be.”įunding for the project would be 80% federal money and the rest from the state. The point is, what we have known as rush hour traffic will change forever. They're already implementing scattered scheduling, where some people will start at six o'clock in the morning, some seven, some eight, some nine. “We have surveyed large businesses in downtown Buffalo, where they're talking about mitigating the effect of large groups of people in elevators, large groups of people in public spaces and various buildings. 'Work habits are changing, they have changed and some of them will remain permanent with more people working remotely,” he said. 'It will be a distance from the Tifft Nature Preserve,and what will complement the Tifft Nature Preserve is bicycle access and pedestrian access.”įor a project long talked about but never acted on, Higgins believes now is the time, and Buffalo needs a suiting replacement for a post-pandemic environment. “It's gonna be a compliment to the Tifft Nature Preserve because of the linear Park which will be 30 to 35 feet wide,' Higgins said. The freed 45 acres of land would see a new park, essentially connecting the Tifft Nature Preserve to the Outer Harbor. “Our obligation is to make sure that we findhg the most efficient transportation route for vehicles, and then balancing the significant public access opportunity that this project represents,' Higgins said.Ī four-lane parkway on mostly vacant land and rail tracks from Tifft Street to the 190 at Seneca Street could replace the Skyway.

Brian Higgins has been a long-time supporter of removing the highway. Our construction team is ready to break ground as soon as the federal approval comes through.”īuffalo Rep. “We are taking down the skyway, an idea first proposed 50 years ago, and creating a spectacular park overlooking Lake Erie. Andrew Cuomo highlighted removing the Skyway as being in its last stages of approval. Outlining his infrastructure plan for 2021 in his State of the State address Thursday, New York Gov. After decades of talk, it appears the Skyway connecting Buffalo’s Outer Harbor to downtown may start to be torn down sometime this year.

Man jumps off skyway bridge 2021 buffalo ny