Press Release:
Poughkeepsie Entrance of Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park Will Be Closed For Construction On Thursday, June 4
Bridge will be accessible from Highland. Welcome centers and restrooms to remain open on both approaches. Regular access expected to resume Friday, June 5.
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (June 3, 2020) – As construction begins on the East Gate Plaza, access on the east (Poughkeepsie) side of Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park will be limited on Thursday, June 4. On that date, the bridge deck itself will not be accessible from Poughkeepsie, however, will be accessible from the west (Highland) approach. It is expected that regular access will resume upon the park’s opening on Friday, June 5, however an extended closure may be possible. For updates, visit walkway.org.
The Dutchess Welcome Center, its indoor restrooms, and adjacent parking lots will remain open. For construction crews to operate safely, access in the park will be blocked from near the Welcome Center to the East (Elevator) Overlook on the bridge. The Washington Street Stairs will also be closed. The elevator remains closed to adhere to social distancing guidelines in New York State. Guests entering the park from the west entrance will be required to turn around at the East Overlook.
Patrons seeking passage across the river during this disruption in service are encouraged to utilize the mapped Walkway Loop Trail. This 4.4-mile loop winds through the City of Poughkeepsie and crosses over the Hudson River via a designated pedestrian pathway on the Mid-Hudson Bridge before curling through Franny Reese State Park to the Ulster approach to Walkway Over the Hudson. For more information including a map of the Walkway Loop Trail, visit walkway.org/looptrail.
Both the William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail in Dutchess County and the Hudson Valley Rail Trail in Ulster County will remain open with no disruptions.
When complete, the $1.5 million East Gate Plaza project will more than double the size of the park atop the Washington Street Stairs just outside the Poughkeepsie gates. It will create a natural gathering space for visitors and therefore a less-crowded pathway for walkers, runners, and cyclists.
The hallmark of the East Gate Plaza is the construction of a structure to include a walk-in space for guests to purchase Walkway merchandise, improved access to sundries, snacks, drinks, and other items, and a covered pavilion with audio/visual capabilities to support events, tours, and special programs.
Additional benefits of the project will include more seating, landscaping, and the replacement of a decaying retaining wall from the bridge’s original construction in the 1880s.
Construction on the East Gate Plaza is expected to be completed in 2021. Local firm Siegrist and Sons is helming the project.