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Montague Street Businesses Call for a Footbridge to Connect Brooklyn Heights to Brooklyn Bridge Park During BQE Construction

Construction to repair the Brooklyn Queens Expressway slated for the near future, will affect access to Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of the city’s premier parks and waterfront destinations. The Department of Transportation is considering building a footbridge from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade to the Park to maintain Park access during construction.

The Montague Street Business Improvement District, (The BID), which represents more than 100 small businesses in Brooklyn Heights’, has requested that the City build a permanent footbridge from the bottom of Montague Street to the Park.

The campaign spearheaded by The BID, and endorsed by residents of Brooklyn Heights, civic, church and community organizations, calls to build a modern day version of the original neat iron bridge that spanned Montague Street from1859 to 1946. The original bridge, referred to as the Pennybridge, was built to accommodate a street incline to the waterfront, and was demolished in 1946 to make way for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

“Building the footbridge at the foot of the Montague Street to Brooklyn Bridge Park is a great way to use a proven historic solution to connect the neighborhood to the waterfront and the Park,” said Kate Chura, executive director of the Montague Street BID.

“Increased pedestrian traffic from downtown Brooklyn, and more than six subways, straight down Montague to the footbridge would offer a great economic boost to the businesses on the route,” added Chura.

Many of the businesses on Montague Street are family-owned and have served the community for more than 50 years, a few for more than 80, and have weathered economic storms over the years.

The BID has started an online petition, Build a footbridge from Montague Street to Brooklyn Bridge Park and is asking supporters to click here http://bit.ly/2AmW9Un to sign the petition.

The BID also suggests contacting local government officials to voice support for building a permanent footbridge on Montague Street.

NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Polly Trottenberg
Online: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/contact/contact-form.shtml

  • Click Construction on the dropdown menu
  • Click on Bridge and tunnel

Department of Transportation Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Keith Bray Telephone: 646-892-1350
Online: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/contact/contact-form.shtml?routing=bk

  • Click Construction on the dropdown menu
  • Click on Bridge and tunnel

Borough President Eric Adams
Email: askeric@brooklynbp.nyc.gov
Telephone 718-802-3700

City Council Member Stephen Levin
Email: slevin@council.nyc.gov
Phone: 718-875-520

Video interviews with business owners on Montague Street about the proposed footbridge are available for download at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/g6650s70udcis8g/AADLEFavL-SMyGl3AVHz00RLa?dl=0

Interviews featuring Enrico Palazio, co-owner Key Food, in business at 102 Montague Street for 36 years; Museem Kennis, owner, Daphne Art Gallery and Custom Framing, in business at 154 Montague Street and Tony Bates, property owner and business owner Bentley’s Shoes, in business at 144 Montague Street for 39 years are currently posted.

Support the local businesses on Montague Street
Sign a petition to build a permanent footbridge on Montague Street.