East River Esplanade Section Closed Through March For Construction

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Pedestrians and cyclists will be barred from a six-block section of the East River Esplanade through the end of March due to construction related to the expansion of the Rockefeller University's campus, according to the school's construction website.

Since the beginning of the week the esplanade has been off-limits from East 63rd to East 68th streets as construction workers repair drainage pipes, according to the university. The pipes, which drain rainwater from the esplanade and the nearby FDR Drive into the East River, were found to be damaged. Rockefeller University decided to fix the pipes at its own expense during the Rockefeller University's $500 million construction of its River Campus, according to the university's construction website.

The closures on the Esplanade are expected to last until March 31, according to the Rockefeller University. The University decided to complete the repairs during the winter months of February and March when the esplanade is not as highly-trafficked due to the cold weather.

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