Verrazano-Narrows Bridge Upper-Level Replacement Project Enters New Stage of Roadway Construction

Martin J. Golden

August 27, 2015

Starting Saturday morning, August 29, MTA Bridges and Tunnels will move into the next stage of construction work in the $235.7 million Verrazano-Narrows Bridge upper level deck replacement project. Upper-level lane closures in both directions will be necessary on Friday night, August 28, to allow for the transition.

All current lanes of traffic will continue to be maintained during peak weekday morning and afternoon drive times using a moveable barrier. A reduced stretch of isolated lane traffic — known as a “cattle chute” — will be in use on the Brooklyn-bound side during morning rush hours, and a similar lane formation will be in use on the Staten Island-bound side in the afternoon.  

As with the previous construction stage, from Monday through Friday, three lanes to Brooklyn will be open from 5 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Three lanes to Staten Island will be open in the afternoon from 2:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 

To better accommodate weekend traffic, on Fridays three lanes into Staten Island will be open from 1 p.m. through midnight. Weekend configuration on the upper level will have three Staten Island-bound lanes and two Brooklyn-bound lanes. As before, drivers who need to access the Belt Parkway’s Brooklyn-bound ramp from the upper level in the morning must use the left-hand lane of the bridge only. Signs are in place to direct drivers to the dedicated lane.  

Drivers can also utilize the lower level of the bridge, which will have three available lanes in each direction during peak traffic times. Additional lanes on both levels may be closed to facilitate construction during off-peak travel times.

The upper-level staged roadway construction that began in March will continue through summer 2017.