Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro

Staten Island, New York

Molinaro renews call for new Goethals Bridge following morning commute accident

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today is requesting that the Port Authority expedite the planning process for a new Goethals Bridge following this morning’s accident which closed all lanes of the span for an hour this morning.

       “The 77-year-old bridge, with its narrow 10-foot lanes, needs to be replaced, and this morning’s accident underscores the need to re-double our efforts to build a new, safer bridge with wider lanes,” said Molinaro.

      “Accidents are going to occur from time to time on any span, but the narrowness of the Goethals Bridge makes traveling on it a harrowing experience—particularly with trucks,” Molinaro added. “I strongly support building a new bridge with the utmost expediency, and urge the Port Authority to fast-track its planning process.”

      In February of 2004, the Port Authority hired a consultant to conduct a three-year environmental review of future options for the Goethals Bridge, and to recommend a preferred alternative to upgrade and modernize the crossing.

      The Goethals Bridge, which opened in 1928, has two 10-foot lanes in each direction, which do not meet today’s 12-foot-wide highway design standards and has no shoulders for emergency access.

      “Because Staten Island is geographically isolated and does not have the same access to public transportation as other municipalities, the speedy replacement of the Goethals is crucial to the safety of our residents and all bi-state commuters,” Molinaro concluded.

December 14, 2005