By Daniel Katzive
When the 125th Street exit on the northbound Henry Hudson Parkway closed in July, many regular drivers probably assumed it was for some short-term maintenance.
Nearly six months later, the exit remains out of service, and the city’s Department of Transportation says it is unable to say when the ramp might be accessible again. While perhaps annoying for some drivers, some local residents say the closure presents an opportunity to improve community access to Riverside Park.
The 125th Street exit, otherwise known as Exit 12, crosses above the northern extremity of the Amtrak tunnel that runs from there down to West 72nd Street. An inspection of the structure this summer identified “deficiencies that require urgent repair,” according to a statement shared by the DOT with community members. Citing an abundance of caution and the interests of public safety, the agency said it had determined that vehicles should not use the ramp until repairs could be completed. Accessing the site requires extensive coordination with Amtrak, and the DOT told West Side Rag that city officials are continuing to work with the railroad on finalizing a repair plan.
The tunnel was built nearly 100 years ago in the Robert Moses era to cover and enclose what was then a New York Central freight line running down the West Side. In the early 1990s, Amtrak connected the by-then unused rail line to Penn Station and began running Empire Service trains to Albany through the tunnel. Problems with the tunnel structure, or Park Overbuild as it is more formally known, have contributed to flooding in the northern stretches of the Riverside Park promenade and have led to restrictions on vehicle access to that part of the park.
Closure of the exit means that drivers heading northbound on the Henry Hudson for West Harlem or Morningside Heights – or the RFK bridge on the east side – must use the congested West 95th Street exit or continue north to the West 158th Street exit. The southbound 125th Street exit is unaffected by the closure.
While the loss of the ramp may be inconveniencing some drivers, some members of the community are not eager to see it reopen, at least not fully. Felipe Castillo Trujillo, an area resident and member of Community Board 9, said in an email discussion with West Side Rag that he has not heard any complaints about the ramp being out of service; he said he personally would prefer to see the ramp converted into another access point for Riverside Park.
The ramp runs from St. Claire Place, just to the west and far below the elevated section of Riverside Drive, and climbs to pass just to the west of the park’s 119th Street tennis courts above. Accessing this part of the park promenade from the western end of 125th Street currently requires a very roundabout trip down the Cherry Walk, along the river, or a steep climb to Riverside Drive and then a steep descent from the area of Grant’s Tomb.
Local residents have had an eye on redesigning the ramp even before this summer’s closure. In February 2025, Castillo Trujillo, along with community members Ira Gershenhorn and Allegra LeGrande, put together a presentation for CB9 suggesting that one of the ramp’s two lanes be closed to cars, protected by barriers, and converted into a park access lane for pedestrians, bicycles, and low speed vehicles such as those used for park maintenance. The lane could also provide alternate access for emergency vehicles.
LeGrande told West Side Rag in an email that she views this as a way to improve conditions for all modes of transit. “For those on wheels – folks in wheelchairs, moms with strollers or kick scooters in tow, and yes, bicycles – this change will provide for excellent new access to Riverside Park, improving the lives of the community,” said LeGrande.
While the highway ramp is already accessible on foot from the park, the DOT currently discourages use of the ramp by pedestrians and cyclists, even when closed to vehicles.
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On the east side of the ramp is a wonderful native plant pollinator meadow. Without cars, there is a buffer for nature without the sounds of vehicles. I use this for Forest Bathing walks. You can feel like you have left the city.
So bottom line: people
In that neighborhood are more than happy to increase congestion in other area (96th or 158th).
Seems fair.
Access for cars is far more prevalent than access to the river as it is. Ideally there would be a solution to ease congestion holistically (I’m sure this closure is not the sole problem for congestion) and give local residents access to nature, which is invaluable and has been demonstrated to decrease cost burdens to the health care system.
Agree. This is a nightmare. The 96th Street exit is a mess already. Having more traffic there does not help. Lots of people live, work, shop, etc. between 96 and 158. There needs to be an intermediate exit.
If the ramp is closed off long term or permanently, there will be less traffic to the restaurants and other businesses on the western end of 125th street. How is that a good thing? 60 blocks between exits in busy commercial and residential areas of Manhattan is too much .
That’s simply absurd. Most people in that neighborhood do not get around by car
I doubt that many people access those restaurants and other businesses by car.
But the argument that this simply shifts the congestion to 96th Street and 158th St is worth considering.
When will people who live in congested areas like Manhattan simply stop getting around by car?
It also shifts drivers to RSD. I now drive up Riverside to 135th St to get to Manhattanville when I used to take exit 12.
People get around by car for many reasons, including Manhattan residents who are anti car but love their ubers!
This isn’t a zero sum game. Closing the exit permanently is not the only way to increase access to the park. Ever hear of foot bridges? They built a beautiful one at 150 street something just a few years ago. Those suggesting the permanent closure are letting their anti car bias color their thinking. The temporary closure is a great inconvenience. The guy who said he heard no complaints is not a reliable source.
One of the comments says that this will send cars elsewhere and that’s bad because it’s selfish to make other neighborhoods deal with traffic, and another comment says this will send cars elsewhere and that’s bad because there won’t be any traffic coming to local businesses. They can’t both be true!
why not?
They’re just throwing all the usual excuses at the wall lmao
Here on the UWS, P and not-P are both bad, except when they’re not.
Both statements can be true because they describe different impacts on different groups.
This is the right answer.: both can be true. Thanks for cutting through the knee-jerk advocacy.
The statements are about the *level* of traffic, from which they then imply the impacts. Obviously the level of traffic cannot be both higher and lower near the exit in question.
Sounds great, keep it closed. More parks, less highways!
yes!!
It is a slap in the face to the many New Yorkers to who live between 96 Street and 158th Street to close off our access to the West Side Highway exit at 125th Street.
The neighborhood has plenty of people who use cars and with all the high-rises recently added to the neighborhood, it’s going to make our streets even more congested with cars trying to squeeze onto Riverside Drive and Broadway. Fix the tunnel and then open up the ramp again so that people who live in Morningside Heights and Harlem can have access to the highway.
Castillo Trujillo hasn’t heard any complaints? I find that very hard to believe.
No – It’s a slap in the face to the thousands of New Yorkers in the area who far outnumber the car owners, who need a clean space to walk and enjoy their neighborhood. Car owners and commuters who pass through can make other arrangements.
Where do you suppose the northbound West Side Hwy vehicles will wind up?
Onto local streets, of course. Why not close every exit off of the highway and force all cars onto the George Washington Bridge?This would rid Manhattan of thousands of cars. Need to access the Upper Westside? Sorry!
I like it! We can change the name to the “Lemming Side Highway”!
This reminds me of when Trump got his way and the 72nd Street exit was closed forever.
I guess urbanists and Trump agree on something!
What is happening with the southbound entrance to the Henry Hudson at West 79th Street? Seems like its been closed for five years?
You don’t want to go there. (So you can’t.)
The city’s engineers are trying to figure out where the Rotunda starts and where it ends. Once they come to agreement on that, they’ll let traffic back to access the southbound entrance.
(Sarcasm – in case anyone thought that was an objective report.)
Not only does the closure increase traffic congestion at 95 and 158th exits, but for those like me who travel to the upper reaches of Riverside Ave, it increases car traffic along Riverside from 95th northwards.
Everyone is inconvenienced by this sudden, now extended, closure. The faster the ramp is opened to cars the better. If peeps need another point of access to Riverside Park, then consider building a path alongside the repaired ramp.
“Riverside Avenue” is a distinct tell you’re not a local fwiw.
Car trips in the city have dropped since congestion pricing was enacted, BTW.
More than 70% of Manhattan residents do not own a car.
These are all worth considering when debating the use of a compromised stretch of roadway that will likely be out of service for half a decade while repairs are underway
This is really the only exit to get to Columbia University, Morningside Heights, the new Manhattanville campus, 125th Street commercial district etc. from the south. There needs to be an exit there. they certainly can make it smaller and nicer looking and improve the park area there.
And there is a southbound exit.
They’re all easily accessible by public transportation.
Urbanists are happy to see this exit closed, then they complain about cut through traffic on local streets. This isn’t about making things better, this is about restrictions on mobility.
And mobility is another aspect of freedom.
I think that the real story is the one mentioned in paragraph 4: there are problems with the “park overbuild.” The problems of this exit and of the 96-120th section of Riverside Park, where park vehicles are blocked from using the promenade and are driving directly on the grass, indicate to me that the Amtrak tunnel situation is an emergency that no one is treating as such. My guess is that in a month or a year we’re going to hear about a section of the overbuild collapsing entirely.
Absolutely. There hasn’t been proper reporting about the state of that tunnel for years. The ENTIRE Adams mayoralty came and went with zero work being done on that section. Can WSR perhaps do some reporting about a major infrastructure issue here rather than a disco ball that garners clicks?
The tunnel should be fixed and the ramp reopened. It’s the only reasonable exit between 96 and 158t. for local businesses, stores, apartments and various colleges in the area. The traffic congestion now at 96 St is worse than ever. It forces drivers to exit onto Riverside Drive, and Broadway thus increasing local traffic going north.
It looks like there is room to run the exit ramp between the road and the railroad. Some piles would have to be driven on both sides of the new ramp to support the land under the road and RR and enable the new ramp to descend to street level. It would be a tight working area but it could be cheaper than rebuilding the tunnel to enable it to carry cars and would give the community better access to the Park.
Ira Gershenhorn and Allegra LeGrande’s presentation to close one ramp to cars is a good compromise and should resolve most of the issues.
Close it off, rip up the pavement, rewild it
“and yes, bicycles” ?
I sense some animosity toward bicycles. What’s the issue. Bike riders are integral to the community of Riverside Park lovers.
I do like the idea of taking a lane of the ramp for non-motorist uses. Right now, the wilderness path deadends at the ramp. It would be nice to be able to continue to 125t Street.
There shouldn’t be any half-mile long highway exit ramps in Manhattan
I believe the below left the 125th exit “as is”,
There was a 2014 proposal to create a promenade.
An elevated park along the West Side Highway, built atop existing Amtrak lines (the Empire Corridor).
Features: Would connect the neighborhood to the Hudson River waterfront.
Funding: Proposed selling unused air rights over the tracks to finance it, along with creating a special zoning district for 2,000 affordable housing units.
Status:
Requires Amtrak’s sign-off for development over their tracks.
I came across this piece of park / ramp by accident and it is gorgeous!
This closure presents an opportunity to re-think access between the park and the neighborhood and the Hudson bike way. Its always bothered me how this area is all cut up and difficult to navigate if you are walking or on a bike. This beautiful ramp flows seamlessly from the park into the neighborhood…its hard to believe there were cars there just last year.
I also own and drive a car in the city AND walk and bike.
We should really rebuild Miller Highway and run it all the way down to the Battery Tunnel!
Below is the link to an article for a promenade, if it could be funded with unused air rights maybe it makes sense.
Also there was a proposal to put a metro north train stop in that area and continue the ferry service to harlem piers.
https://inhabitat.com/is-harlem-next-in-line-for-its-own-high-line-style-park/harlem-high-line-park/
Curious if the people who think that eliminating car access and convenience is always the right thing to do . . . I know you don’t own cars. . . Us car owners are the worst in your view. . . But do y’all think it’s a good idea for you to pledge to never take a cab or rideshare again? Put your money where your mouth is.