Posted on December 22, 2021
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New legislation will require the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to examine the possibility of widening Staten Island’s narrowest bridge.
On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that directs the Port Authority to assess the alignment and surrounding property of the Outerbridge Crossing to determine the feasibility of widening the bridge in an effort to increase traffic flow at the oft-congested crossing.
“The Outerbridge Crossing is used by some 30 million vehicles a year and is a large part of daily life for New Yorkers on the South Shore of Staten Island, as well as the commuters from New Jersey who contribute so much to our state’s economy,” Hochul said.
“As it is currently built, the Outerbridge Crossing’s narrow lanes and inadequate traffic flow are a frequent commuter headache. With this legislation we hope to expedite the process of dramatically improving quality of life and enhancing safety for commuters from New York and New Jersey alike,” the governor added.
As part of that ongoing study, the new legislation will require the Port Authority to examine the alignment of the bridge and determine which nearby private properties would have to be acquired in order to complete a potential expansion.
Once the study has been completed, the Port Authority will issue a report to the governors of New York and New Jersey, as well as the leaders of the New York State Senate and Assembly.
“The Outerbridge Crossing is a vital link for Staten Island drivers. This bipartisan legislation is an important step toward a modern bridge that can enhance safety and ease congestion,” said State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island).
In recent years, the Port Authority has completed similar projects to widen and modernize the agency’s other two Staten Island bridges, the Goethals Bridge and the Bayonne Bridge.
Both new bridges were reconstructed with wider, 12-foot travel lanes, as well as inside and outside shoulders, in order to increase vehicle capacity, subsequently improving traffic flow and reducing congestion on the heavily-trafficked crossings.
The Outerbridge Crossing, the only Staten Island-connected Port Authority bridge yet to be modernized, still features narrower 10-foot lanes and is often subject to heavy traffic, particularly during the summer months as Staten Islanders make regular weekend trips to and from the Jersey Shore.
“Today marks an important milestone in our mission to replace the 93-year old Outerbridge Crossing and brings us one step closer toward achieving our shared vision for a modern crossing that can better accommodate the demands of Staten Island’s growing industrial industry,” said Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore).
It’s currently unclear whether a widening project on the Outerbridge Crossing would entail an expansion of the existing structure or the complete construction of a new bridge.
Click the following links to learn more about the recent modernization projects on the Goethals Bridge and the Bayonne Bridge.
