Construction on Albany Skyway to begin this month
ALBANY, N.Y. » Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced recently that construction on the Albany Skyway, a new elevated park in the state’s capital, will begin this month.
The project will transform an underutilized Clinton Avenue ramp off northbound Interstate 787 and Quay Street in Albany into an elevated, linear park and is scheduled to open by the end of 2021.
When completed, the Albany Skyway will expand recreational and retail opportunities in the City of Albany and provide a new, safe way for pedestrians and cyclists to reach the Corning Riverfront Park and the Mohawk Hudson Hike Bike Trail which is part of the Empire State Trail - along the Hudson River waterfront. The New York State Department of Transportation will oversee the construction of the park.
“The Albany Skyway project will open the door for residents and visitors to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Hudson River waterfront and provide a gateway to explore all that the City of Albany has to offer - from historical landmarks to recreational opportunities,” Cuomo stated.
“This exciting and transformational project will foster ample opportunity for local economic development and provide residents and visitors with another reason to enjoy New York’s capital city and region,” Cuomo noted.
The $13 million Albany Skyway project will close the underused Clinton Avenue ramp, which travels underneath Interstate 787 and links Quay Street near the Corning Preserve and northbound Interstate 787 to Broadway and Clinton Avenue at Quackenbush Square. The ramp will be repurposed as a landscaped multi-use park for pedestrians and bicyclists. It will provide safe, non-motorized access from downtown Albany and neighborhoods, such as Arbor Hill, Sheridan Hollow, and the Warehouse District, to the Hudson River and the city’s Corning Riverfront Park, while enabling visitors to the waterfront to safely access downtown Albany. The approximately halfmile-long Skyway will be fully accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
When completed, the Albany Skyway will build on the Empire State Trail, which is the nation’s longest multi-use state trail. Completed in December 2020, the trail spans 750-miles and runs from New York City through the Hudson and Champlain Valleys to Canada, and from Albany to Buffalo along the Erie Canal. It provides a safe and scenic pathway for New Yorkers and tourists to experience New York State’s varied landscapes.
“There is an intricate link between tourism, economic development and transportation, and no greater champion of this dynamic than Governor Cuomo. The Department of Transportation is committed to providing sustainable and accessible transportation projects that connect communities and help grow our economy and we look forward to delivering this transformational project, which repurposes a portion of infrastructure in a way that strengthens the natural bonds that tie the Capital Region to the Hudson River and provides access for residents and visitors alike to enjoy the waterfront’s scenic grandeur,” New York Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez explained.
“I am pleased to see that the long-awaited Skyway project is going to begin construction this month. This project will convert an underused highway ramp into an impressive park that allows new access to the Hudson River waterfront,” Sen. Neil Breslin remarked.
“I am excited to see the start of construction on the Albany Skyway this month. This has been a community-driven priority for some time and reflects the continued growth in the city as well as the demand for greater recreational and healthy alternatives for the public to enjoy. I am glad state resources are able to assist in making this project a reality and I look forward to its opening,” Assembly member John McDonald III added.