Work Starts On New Fort Hamilton Bike Lane, Closes Overpass

Update: DOT finished the work on June 15 and no road closure is expected for June 18.

BROOKLYN, NY — Construction on Fort Hamilton Parkway this week will bring a new protected bike lane a few steps closer to reality, according to officials.

The Fort Hamilton Parkway overpass closed starting Tuesday as part of a project that will bring a protected bike lane between East Fifth Street and McDonald Avenue and a two-way lane on the overpass above the Prospect Expressway, according to Community Board 7.

The road is expected to close again — including its existing one-way bike path — between Park Circle and East Fifth Street on Friday morning to continue converting the path to a two-way, protected lane, the Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.

The construction is the latest step in an improvement project on the street that officials hope will improve safety for cyclists along the Windsor Terrace corridor.

So far, crews have been working on widening the lane on the overpass to get it ready for the two-way conversion, according to DOT.

The roadway now has a one-way bike lane that is separated from traffic by a buffer. The new lane will be separated by a row of parking, according to renderings from meetings about it last year.

The improvements will also include pedestrian islands and new pedestrian and cyclist crossing times, according to the notice.

It will also include added parking to offset a loss of spaces due to the bike lane installation. The 20 new parking spots, added along Caton Avenue, will be done by consolidating bus stops at McDonald and Caton avenues, the Brooklyn Paper reported.