AECOM (NYSE:ACM), a leading global infrastructure consulting firm, has announced its selection as the Lead Designer in partnership with Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc. for the Bronx River Parkway bridge replacement project. Commissioned by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the project involves replacing two aging bridges, originally built in 1951, to enhance safety, improve traffic flow, and increase resilience between East Tremont Avenue and Bronx Park—a critical corridor for thousands of daily commuters. The project is partly funded by over $200 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“The Bronx River Parkway bridge replacement project will play a crucial role in meeting 21st-century infrastructure demands and enhancing connectivity across boroughs,” said Mark Southwell, Chief Executive of AECOM’s Global Transportation Business. “Our global expertise in high-performance urban bridge projects makes us well-suited to support NYSDOT’s commitment to a more resilient transportation network that connects communities, protects the environment, and bolsters New York State’s economic well-being.”
As Lead Designer, AECOM will provide comprehensive design and engineering services for the replacement and widening of the Bronx River Parkway’s Southbound and Northbound bridges over East Tremont Avenue, East 180th Street, Morris Park Avenue, and the NYC Transit Authority’s 180th Street Rail Yard. The project will also include a new shared-use path connecting cyclists and pedestrians to the Bronx River Greenway, along with a dedicated southbound exit ramp to East 177th Street to ease traffic congestion. The new bridges will incorporate features such as redundant steel girders, stainless-steel reinforced concrete decks, concrete piers, fewer bridge joints, and other enhancements designed to reduce long-term maintenance costs and improve resilience against climate change and severe weather.
“As NYSDOT modernizes critical roadway infrastructure, we’re proud to support them with our expertise in resilient design and state-of-the-art BIM modeling technologies to ensure timely delivery and lasting local benefits,” said Bane Gaiser, Chief Executive of AECOM’s U.S. East and Latin America region. “Our long-standing partnership with NYSDOT includes key highway improvements across New York City, including some of the nation’s most significant design-build projects, such as the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge—one of New York’s largest bridge projects.”
“We are eager to leverage our extensive transportation resources in New York, including our award-winning bridge design expertise, to deliver these complex new structures,” added Wahid Albert, AECOM’s New York Metro Highway-Bridge Market Sector Leader. “To address the project’s challenging construction and traffic maintenance requirements, our team has developed innovative design solutions that will result in safe, efficient, and durable structures for the 21st century.”
The project will also include the installation of new stormwater drainage systems, as well as upgraded curbs, ramps, and sidewalks to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Additionally, resurfacing work will be carried out on Morris Park Avenue from East 180th Street to Melville Street, along with sections of the Bronx River Parkway adjacent to and between the bridges being replaced.
