Bronx BP Gibson, Assemblymember Torres, State DOT Reps to Paddle Bronx River for a Just Cross Bronx Corridor

As the State considers plans to expand the Cross Bronx Expressway, Assemblymember Emérita Torres, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, and community organizations will paddle down the Bronx River to identify forward-thinking improvements for the corridor

BRONX, NY (10/09/2025) (readMedia)-- On Friday, Oct 10, Assemblymember Emérita Torres, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, and the Bronx River Alliance will paddle down the Bronx River for a waterfront tour of the expressway's proposed Cross Bronx expansion site.

Governor Hochul and the New York State Department of Transportation are currently advancing a $900 million project - with $150 million in federal grant funding - to expand the Cross Bronx and build a mile-long elevated roadway over the Bronx River and Starlight Park. The expressway carves through Black and Brown neighborhoods already living with some of the highest childhood asthma rates due to heavy traffic emissions and pollution. In 2022, NYSDOT illegally dumped roadway debris directly into the Bronx River after demolishing a Cross Bronx entrance ramp during a similar rehabilitation project.

Advocates will share background on the community's history of volunteer-led environmental remediation along the Bronx River, and recommend sustainable solutions to mitigate the project's potential health and climate impacts.

WHO:

Assemblymember Emérita Torres

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

Bronx River Alliance

State representatives from NYSDOT

[List in formation]

WHAT:

A Bronx River paddle-along with Bronx BP Gibson, Assemblymember Torres, community organizations, and agency representatives from NYSDOT to identify safe, forward-thinking solutions for the Cross Bronx corridor, and tour key landmarks along the Bronx River set to be negatively impacted by New York State’s planned expansion.
WHEN: Friday October 10, 2025 at 12:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: Bronx River House
1490 Sheridan Blvd
Bronx, New York 10459
NOTES:

Media interested in attending the paddle-along should RSVP to Bronx River Alliance Outreach Manager Victoria Toro at victoria.toro@bronxriver.org.

NOON - 2:00PM: Paddle the Bronx River and view the project area from the water