It's Here! Final Steps for Multi-Million Dollar Route 9 Project

A massive project in the Hudson Valley is nearing completion, and it will allow pedestrians and cyclists on Route 9 access to New York City like never before.

Across New York State, there are countless initiatives meant to encourage non-motorized travel. In the Mid-Hudson Valley, local organizations are hard at work to complete the connection of 60 miles of trails that would create a continuous path from Kingston, NY to Port Jervis, NY. The project further south, however, may be even more ambitious.

A new pedestrian bridge that crosses the New York State Thruway in Tarrytown, NY is nearing completion (NYSTA via Facebook)

New Pedestrian Bridge Installation in the Hudson Valley, NY

The nearly $14 million dollar project, which is focused where Route 9 crosses the New York State Thruway in Tarrytown, NY (above), not only extends the Tappan Zee/Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge side path to the historic Lyndhurst Mansion, but connects pedestrians and cyclists to the 46 mile-long Old Croton Aqueduct Trail between Croton-on-Hudson, NY and Yonkers, NY. And that's not all...

The new pedestrian bridge in Tarrytown, NY will improve bicycle and pedestrian access to the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail (NYSTA via Facebook)

Long Pedestrian Paths in New York State

After the pedestrian bridge is completed, Hudson Valley residents will have a very possible (if not creative) route from towns in southern Dutchess County, NY all the way to famous New York landmarks like the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Gardens.

The NYSTA shared mock-ups of the construction zones for the Tarrytown pedestrian bridge (NYSTA)

Construction Update for Tarrytown, NY Pedestrian Bridge

Using a combination of Route 9 and the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, the lower Hudson Valley is now more accessible than even to non-motorized vehicles. While the current project isn't complete yet, a major milestone was just reached over the weekend.

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"Early this morning, contractor crews installed a new 270-foot-long pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the Thruway (I-87) in Tarrytown", the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) reported on Saturday June 29th (below). The NYSTA hopes construction will be completed by the end of summer.

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The increase of accessible bike and walking paths also means less cyclists and walkers on roads built for cars and trucks, with many local highways being dangerous enough without the added traffic. Check out five of the worst offenders below.