NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The second span of the new Kosciuszko Bridge will open Wednesday to bicyclists and pedestrians, and will open to motor vehicles Thursday.
The span, which was completed four years ahead of schedule, will feature nine lanes of traffic for cars and trucks and a path for bicyclists and pedestrians.
The first span opened in April 2017.
The bridge is equipped with colorful lights which will glow at night.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a press conference on Tuesday that the new cable-stay bridge, replacing six lanes with nine, will reduce traffic by up to 65 percent.
“I spent about a year of my life on this bridge in traffic," Cuomo said, describing the bridge’s previous incarnation. “This was a legendary bottleneck. I thought the name of the bridge was the ‘darn Kosciuszko Bridge’ my entire life.”
A park is slated to open under the bridge in Brooklyn next year.
The new park will be seven acres and be called “Under the K.”