[title]
Following last month’s terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, the New York State Department of Transportation is moving forward with plans to spend $57 million to redesign West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues to prevent potential terrorist attacks, increase pedestrian safety and replace critical infrastructure systems.
According to Crain’s, which first reported the news, the agency will build “wider sidewalks (adding up to 6 feet on each side of the street) and new steel security bollards and planters (in place of temporary concrete blocks),” in addition to enlarging the existing bus lanes. Officials will also replace the old underground water and sewer lines in major need of upgrades.
In terms of timing, the outlet reports that the work will likely take four years and be carried forward at night “to reduct the impact on businesses.” New Yorkers can expect the project to conclude by the summer of 2030, if all goes according to plans.
Although the tragedy in New Orleans certainly spurred officials into quicker action, advocates have been asking for safety upgrades in Times Square for years now, especially following the 2017 car attack in the area, when Richard Rojas, a Navy veteran, drove into pedestrians outside the Reuters Building before crashing into traffic bollards on 45th Street.
“We did not need New Orleans to know we need this, we had the horrible attack on Seventh Avenue,” said Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance, in an official statement to Crain's. “The project will make 42nd Street safer.”