A $163 million waterfront infrastructure project will address a major connectivity gap along Manhattan's East River, expanding space for pedestrians and cyclists while improving access between public parks and waterfront pathways. Skanska has been selected to design and build the East Side Greenway 14th Street Connector for New York City's Department of Design and Construction, which is overseeing the project on behalf of NYC Parks.
The project will replace a constrained section of the existing greenway near the Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive with a wider, two-way route designed for pedestrians and cyclists.
The new connector will link East River Park with Captain Patrick J. Brown Walk, creating a more continuous path along Manhattan's East River shoreline. The project is intended to improve accessibility and provide additional space for people travelling through the 14th Street area.
Construction includes foundations, piers and the structural superstructure needed to support the over-water pathway. Planned amenities include seating, drinking fountains and waste receptacles.
Skanska will deliver the project with WXY as its design partner. The team will coordinate the new structure with existing waterfront infrastructure and utility systems, including nearby Con Edison facilities.
Work will require coordination among city agencies and local stakeholders, with construction planning intended to limit disruption to surrounding areas. The design and delivery process will also address the connection between the new pathway and existing waterfront routes.
The project will use New York City's design-build procurement model, bringing design and construction teams together under an integrated delivery arrangement. According to the project announcement, this approach is expected to save approximately two years compared with the traditional design-bid-build method.
Closing the pathway gap will improve continuity across Manhattan's East River Greenway, supporting commuting, recreational cycling and pedestrian travel. The project also expands public access to the waterfront and strengthens connections between neighbourhoods and park spaces.
For construction stakeholders, the contract illustrates how design-build procurement can combine structural engineering, utility coordination and public-realm improvements within a single delivery programme. Its over-water construction requirements and urban infrastructure interfaces will make coordination among the design team, builder, utilities and city agencies important to execution.
Source: Skanska.
