Walking Across The Hudson River: Locals Propose A Pedestrian Bridge

Manhattan isn’t far from the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. But on the bad days of traffic and train delays, it can seem like light years away.

That’s why a group of locals have proposed an unusual public works project… the Liberty Bridge.

Fed up with the available methods of commuting to New York from Hudson County, Kevin Shane, Kirk Bray and Jersey City architect Jeff Jordan have come up with an alternative way to cross the Hudson, a proposed pedestrian bridge.

According to plans that the projects supporters have shared online, the proposed bridge would start in Jersey City, follow the embankment to and over the Hudson River, and end in Battery Park, New York City.

Additional features would include an enclosed an express walking lane and separate bike lane, a view of the Hudson River and ADA-compliant elevators, stairs and ramps.

While the project’s organizers have admitted that the bridge is unlikely to actually be made, there is another main goal… to raise awareness about transportation in the area.

“As Jersey City continues to grow in size, the current residents worry about the city’s infrastructure–mainly the PATH system,” the project’s website states. “If I were a Hoboken resident, I’d be concerned with this as well.”

“If you’re a commuter going into Manhattan every day, you’re already watching multiple trains go by on the platform before there’s any sign of space for you to fit onto a PATH car. The same on your trip back. This is already an issue. What’s going to happen when a few thousand more people are trying to get on that same PATH train? I can assure you that that won’t start driving in or taking an Uber. Sure, maybe some of them will take the ferry…but the biggest problem with the ferry is the expense.”

“With the PATH system operating at near maximum capacity during commuter hours (240,000 people per work day), the future of PATH travel from Jersey City to NYC is not looking very good,” the website states. “That’s not even taking into consideration the unreliability of the train system, and the fact that the tunnels need repairs.”

See the full proposal for the Liberty Bridge here.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Jordan Architects via libertybridgeorg.wix.com

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