A New Reopening Date Is Set For The UES Esplanade

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — After a sinkhole set back the completion of a seven-block portion of the East River Esplanade, a new construction timeline has been revealed.

The section of the East River Esplanade between East 72nd and East 78th streets was initially scheduled for the end of October, but now the walkway will reopen to the public nearly a month behind schedule.

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The current renovations to the seven-block portion, organized by the nearby Hospital for Special Surgery, will wrap up on Nov. 23, a spokesperson told Patch.

"HSS had anticipated reopening the remaining section through East 78th Street by the end of October," Tracy Hickenbottom, the assistant vice president of public relations at the Hospital for Special Surgery, told Patch. "However, additional sinkhole repairs being undertaken by NYC Parks near East 80th Street require access to a portion of the construction area, affecting the schedule."

The closed section of the Esplanade is undergoing several changes, including structural seawall repairs and sinkhole remediations. The area will also be painted, repaved and landscaped.

To make way for the sinkhole repairs at East 80th Street, the pedestrian entrances at East 78th and 81st streets will be closed as well.

"HSS continues to coordinate closely with NYC Parks to complete the improvements and restore public access as soon as possible," Hickenbottom said.

Renovations to the rest of the Esplanade, divided between the Parks Department and the New York City Economic Development Corporation, are still underway.

For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.