BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – The City of Buffalo is in the middle of phase three of its Niagara Street Rehabilitation Project known as “Niagara Street Now”.
The 3.3 mile corridor, once completed, will go from an industrial corridor to one that “befits its waterfront proximity and recent increased level of private investment”, according to Watts Architecture and Engineering, the group that is in charge with construction.
Specifically, the new stretch of Niagara Street will place more of an emphasis on pedestrians and bicycles by trimming traffic from two lanes in each direction to one lane with a turning lane in the center. Additionally, there will be dedicated biking paths and more traffic lights.
Construction crews are currently working on the project and there’s no exact day that it is scheduled to be completed. WBEN spoke with some people who live or work near Niagara Street who expressed their general frustrations with the roads over the years.
“Niagara Street is where a lot of businesses and truckers come through off the Peace Bridge,” he said. “When the Thruway is shut down, this is where they come. I can’t imagine what’s going to go on for the first winter storm on the Thruway. Right now with the construction - they’ve got it one lane on each side - and it’s backed up for hours.”
But he admitted that once the project is done there will be a “desperately needed” stop light at the corner and that there’s no way for them to know how much the new traffic pattern will affect business.
The City of Buffalo Public Works Department has long dealt with Niagara Street. In 2014, they highlighted a $16.3 million renovation of Niagara Street between South Elmwood and Porter Avenue to include bike lanes. However, wear and tear on the roadway has meant the return of many potholes.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said that the city has comprehensive paving programs in many areas in the city.