The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has appointed AECOM as the lead designer for the replacement of two bridges along the Bronx River Parkway, US.  

The project, supported by more than $200m from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aims to replace the structures, built in 1951, with modern bridges to improve safety, resilience, and traffic flow. 

AECOM will provide design and engineering services as part of the Yonkers Contracting Company team.  

AECOM global transportation business CEO Mark Southwell said: “The Bronx River Parkway bridge replacement project will serve a crucial role in meeting 21st-century infrastructure demands and improving connections across boroughs. 

“Our leading expertise in high-performance, urban bridge projects across the globe position us well to support NYSDOT’s ongoing commitment to create a more resilient transportation network that connects communities, protects the environment and supports the economic well-being of New York State.” 

The initiative includes the replacement and widening of the Bronx River Parkway South and Northbound bridges over East Tremont Avenue, East 180th Street, Morris Park Avenue, and the New York City Transit Authority's 180th Street Rail Yard.  

A new shared-use path will connect cyclists and pedestrians to the Bronx River Greenway while a dedicated southbound exit ramp to East 177th Street is expected to alleviate traffic congestion.  

The new bridge structures will have redundant steel girders and stainless-steel reinforced concrete decks.  

They will also feature concrete piers, fewer bridge joints, and other enhancements.  

These design choices are intended to reduce long-term maintenance costs and increase the bridges' resilience to climate change and severe weather events. 

The project will install new stormwater drainage facilities and update kerbs, ramps, and sidewalks to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.  

It will also resurface Morris Park Avenue from East 180th Street to Melville Street and sections of the Bronx River Parkway adjacent to and between the bridges being replaced. 

In June this year, AECOM was chosen as the lead designer for the State Road 520 Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid Project in Seattle, Washington, US.