The city has announced plans to replace a heavily traveled drawbridge in the borough.
The Unionport Bridge connects the Cross Bronx Expressway, the Hutchinson River Parkway and the Bruckner Expressway, and sees an estimated 45,000 vehicles crossing it every day. The Department of Transportation says that number will likely increase as more customers flock to the new Throgs Neck shopping center.
However, the drawbridge only has four lanes, leading to around-the-clock traffic jams that have been plaguing drivers for years. Community Board 10 has been fighting for changes and says it's thrilled to finally see things moving in the right direction.
Renderings of the new bridge show that it will be expanded to six lanes, and all of the approaches will be completely rebuilt. The project will cost the city $5.5 million.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation says the bridge is currently scheduled for replacement in 2016. The project will be carried out in stages, with construction expected to take four years.