The Upper West Side is getting a new bridge tonight. No, it won’t get you to Jersey, and who wants to go there anyway.
Lincoln Center is installing a bridge over 65th Street as part of its $1.2 billion redevelopment. The bridge will link the somewhat disparate campuses on either side of 65th Street, allowing Juilliard students to make the trek to the main campus without getting their little toes cold. It will replace the Milstein Bridge, which served a similar purpose but was torn down in 2006.
Some community members criticized the plan to build the bridge a couple of years ago, because they said it was a waste of money. Hey, when you have $1.2 billion to spend…
Lincoln Center says that when it opens to the public this fall it will benefit more than just Juilliard students:
“Spanning 80 feet by 10 feet wide, the ADA compliant bridge will connect the Rose Building to Hearst Plaza (which houses Barclays Capital Grove, Illumination Lawn and the acclaimed Lincoln restaurant). Easing the passage between the northern and southern sections of the Lincoln Center campus, the bridge will provide a safe alternate crossing for visitors of all ages.”
The installation will start tonight around 10 p.m. and continue until Monday, according to Lincoln Center. During the construction, 65th Street will be closed to traffic and there will be limited access to Juilliard.
Rendering by Diller Scofidio + Renfro.
