NEW YORK (VINnews) — Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the New York City Department of Transportation said Thursday the city will redesign the Manhattan entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge to improve bike and pedestrian access ahead of an expected surge of visitors for the FIFA World Cup.

The project will create a dedicated bike connection along Centre Street and fully separate pedestrian and cyclist access at the bridge’s Manhattan approach for the first time, officials said. Work is expected to begin this spring and be completed before the tournament begins in June.

Mayor Mamdani Holds a Press Conference to Make a Street Safety Announcement https://t.co/Fns0mhyKtu

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 27, 2026

“Since taking office, our administration has been guided by a simple promise: streets that are safe and accessible for every New Yorker,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Whether you’re driving, walking or biking across the Brooklyn Bridge, you deserve to get where you’re going with ease and without fear.”

The redesign builds on earlier changes that created protected bike lanes on the bridge itself and officials said it is intended to reduce congestion at one of Lower Manhattan’s most heavily used pedestrian corridors.

NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn said the current entrance forces cyclists and pedestrians to share limited space as they enter and exit the bridge, creating safety concerns that will be intensified by World Cup crowds.

“This redesign will build on the success of the bridge’s protected bike lane and greatly improve the experience for pedestrians and cyclists,” Flynn said.

The project also includes widening a crosswalk between the bridge and City Hall Park to give pedestrians additional space at peak travel times.

Nearly 30,000 pedestrians and more than 5,600 cyclists use the Brooklyn Bridge daily, according to city data, with cycling volumes rising significantly since the installation of protected lanes in 2021.

City officials said the redesign is part of a broader set of street and infrastructure upgrades planned ahead of the World Cup, including improvements in Hell’s Kitchen and Lower Manhattan corridors intended to accommodate increased foot traffic and tourism.