East Side Coastal Resiliency

East Side Coastal Resiliency is a critical physical, social, and economic resiliency project with an integrated coastal protection system that will reduce the risk of flooding and facilitate access to the waterfront along 2.4 miles of Manhattan’s East River shoreline. AKRF co-led preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to NEPA, SEQRA, and CEQR requirements – approved by the New York City Council in November 2019 – and co-led the preliminary and final engineering design team for the $1.45 billion project, including civil and geotechnical engineering, urban planning and design, landscape architecture, and community engagement.

Construction of East Side Coastal Resiliency commenced in 2020 and AKRF is providing extensive construction-phase services for all aspects of the project. We are also leading the design of a shared-use flyover bridge cantilevering over the northbound FDR Drive to elevate pedestrians and cyclists above and safely away from vehicular traffic and link East River Park and Captain Patrick J. Brown Walk. The flyover bridge will also resolve a long-standing access deficiency along the greenway known as the “pinch point,” a narrow four-foot-wide segment at the Con Edison facility on the east side of the highway.

In addition to numerous industry awards and honors, ESCR received an Envision Gold Award for sustainability from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure and earned the rigorous WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) Verification from The Waterfront Alliance.

(All images courtesy of the New York City Department of Design & Construction | Renderings by B.I.G. Architecture, D.P.C.)