The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), with support from Governor Kathy Hochul, has proposed the “5 Bridges Project,” a $900 million infrastructure initiative targeting a one-mile stretch of the Cross Bronx Expressway between Boston Road and Rosedale Avenue. The plan includes the rehabilitation or replacement of five bridges and the addition of a new elevated four-lane roadway over the Bronx River.

According to the NYSDOT, the goal of the project is to improve safety, reduce congestion, and address structural needs. The proposed bypass over the Bronx River would permanently increase traffic capacity in that corridor.

Community-based organizations including the Bronx River Alliance and the No Cross Bronx Expansion Coalition have expressed opposition to the project, specifically the bypass. In a press release dated May 30, 2024, Bronx River Alliance spokesperson Siddhartha Sánchez stated that “it is unacceptable to consider building another highway structure over the Bronx River and Starlight Park,” citing concerns about air pollution, noise, and loss of access to public green space.

On November 25, 2024, I joined local elected officials in calling for the State to pause the project and conduct a full environmental impact statement. During a press conference at Starlight Park, Rep. Torres stated, “The Bronx has the highest rate of asthma hospitalization in the state. That is not a coincidence. That is a consequence of the Cross Bronx Expressway.”

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson has also raised concerns about the proposal, stating in coverage by the Bronx Times that it “threatens to repeat those same mistakes by adding more concrete, more traffic, and more harm.”

NYSDOT held two public meetings in early June 2025, one in person at the Bronx River Art Center and one virtual. According to coverage by City Limits and The Bronx Times, attendees at both meetings expressed concern about the scope of community engagement and requested more transparency around the long-term environmental and health impacts of the project.

A report from the tenant association at Bronx River Houses also raised concerns. Tenant leader Norma Saunders is quoted in a Bronx River Alliance statement saying, “The air pollution from the Cross Bronx Expressway is so toxic that those of us who live in Bronx River Houses cannot open our windows. Ever.”

Elected officials and local organizations have requested alternative solutions, including highway capping, expanded green buffers, and improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. The NYSDOT has not released a revised plan or confirmed changes to the proposed bypass as of August 2025.