Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release #11-34

Contact: Seth Solomonow/Montgomery Dean (212) 839-4850

NYC DOT Announces Full Overnight Closure of Sections of Harlem River Drive for Roadway Repairs

Roadway suffered damage from severe winter weather

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) advises motorists that the southbound Harlem River Drive will be closed to traffic from 125th Street to 127th Street overnight for two consecutive nights starting on the evening of Monday, April 18, and the same section of the northbound Harlem River Drive will be closed the following two nights to facilitate the complete resurfacing of the roadway that has been significantly damaged during this winter’s severe weather. The full closure of the southbound lanes will begin at midnight on Monday and Tuesday evenings and continue until 5 a.m. each night. The full closure of the northbound lanes will begin at midnight on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and continue until 5 a.m. each night with all work completed by 5 a.m. on Friday, April 22. Motorists expecting to use the Harlem River Drive during these hours are urged to plan ahead and consider alternate routes.

DOT has contacted other agencies including MTA Bridges & Tunnels, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and New York State Department of Transportation to use overhead variable message signs on major roadways in the area to notify drivers of the closure. DOT will post signs along the route to guide motorists and will take steps to mitigate the potential impact of additional traffic on these streets, such as adjusting signal timing and coordinating with NYPD to deploy Traffic Enforcement Agents at key intersections. Local community boards, elected officials and other City agencies have been notified of the temporary detour.

During the southbound closure:

  • All traffic must exit at Second Avenue/128th Street and can follow the posted detour to join the southbound FDR Drive at 125th Street.
  • Motorists travelling from the George Washington Bridge are encouraged to use the Major Deegan Expressway and Henry Hudson Parkway as alternate routes.
  • Motorists entering Manhattan via the Third Avenue Bridge will be directed onto Lexington Avenue to join the southbound FDR Drive at 116th Street.

During the northbound closure:

  • The access ramps to the RFK Bridge and the Willis Avenue Bridge will remain open to traffic from the northbound FDR Drive.
  • 96th Street will be the last opportunity to exit the northbound FDR Drive for local access. In the event motorists miss the exit they can take the Willis Avenue Bridge to the Major Deegan Expressway and use one of the other Harlem River bridges to return to Manhattan.
  • The 96th Street entrance to the FDR Drive will be closed to all traffic and motorists will be directed to use First Avenue and follow the posted detour to join the northbound Harlem River Drive at 127th Street.
  • Motorists travelling to the George Washington Bridge are encouraged to take the Willis Avenue Bridge and use the Major Deegan Expressway to join I-95.

—30—