Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Pedestrian safety

“Bowtie of Death” Ped Safety Improvements Underway [Updated]

Photos: Liz Patek

Thanks to reader Liz Patek for these shots of DOT crews getting to work this morning at Broadway and Amsterdam at W. 71st Street. Dubbed the "bowtie of death" by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, the foreboding expanse of asphalt has seen dozens of crashes over the last two years, and has been named by Transportation Alternatives as the most dangerous intersection on the Upper West Side.

The city promised a number of safety improvements just under a year ago, and in July Rosenthal and Stringer again called for their implementation. We'll keep you posted now that construction has begun.

Update Sep. 2: NYC DOT sent along a more recent project rendering than the one we originally posted. See it after the jump.

tk tk
tk tk

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Cyclists in Criminal Court Say Mamdani’s Bike Crackdown is a ‘Waste of Time’

The hearings reveal that the mayor's promise to end criminal summonsing against cyclists has not been kept.

February 3, 2026

‘Lowballing Victims’: Crash Survivors Furious At Hochul’s Car Insurance Proposal

Crash victims and a key state lawmaker are not yet sold on Hochul's car insurance scheme, and hope that the state listens.

February 3, 2026

Opinion: Transit Watchword Should Be Synergy, Not Scarcity

Two fantastic transit ideas — fast and free buses, and a 17-percent expansion of subway mileage — are being set up as adversaries. But they're complementary.

February 3, 2026

Does Hochul’s 125th Street Subway Have to Be That Expensive?

The western extension of the Second Avenue Subway has a $7.7-billion price tag that calls into question the very logic of building it at all — but advocates and researchers say the train is a good idea that could cost a lot less with some minor alterations.

February 3, 2026

Tuesday’s Headlines: ‘Stop Super Speeders’ Edition

The Super Bowl is Sunday in Santa Clara for sports fans, but it's today in Albany for us. Plus other news.

February 3, 2026

The Explainer: How Gov. Hochul’s Car Insurance Agenda Hurts Victims, Helps Big Car, Big Insurance

Why is Hochul fighting for worse insurance protections for victims of traffic violence?

February 2, 2026
See all posts