Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
DOT

Will Curb Extensions and Signs Do the Job at Broadway and Dyckman?

4:01 PM EDT on June 24, 2014

DOT extended a pedestrian island that separates north- and southbound lanes on Riverside Drive at Broadway and Dyckman Street, adding space for pedestrians and forcing drivers to slow their turns. Photos: Brad Aaron
DOT extended a pedestrian island that separates north- and southbound lanes on Riverside Drive at Broadway and Dyckman Street, adding space for pedestrians and forcing drivers to slow their turns. Photos: Brad Aaron
DOT extended a pedestrian island that separates north- and southbound lanes on Riverside Drive at Broadway and Dyckman Street, adding space for pedestrians and forcing drivers to slow their turns. Photos: Brad Aaron

It won't be long before pedestrians will have shorter crossing distances at Broadway, Dyckman Street, and Riverside Drive in Inwood.

Last we checked, work was just getting underway on curb extensions, following the installation of signs prohibiting left turns for motorists approaching the intersection from all directions. As of this afternoon, the southeast curb extension was complete, and the concrete was drying on the northeast corner. An extension of a narrow pedestrian island that separates north- and southbound lanes on Riverside was also done. Work is still in progress on a second, larger Riverside pedestrian island, where northbound auto traffic forks for right turns, which will be expanded on two of its three sides.

As for left turns, during a five to 10 minute period I saw one motorist make a now-banned turn from southbound Broadway onto eastbound Dyckman. Upper Manhattan resident Kimberly Kinchen tweeted last week that she observed several drivers ignoring the new signs in the span of a few minutes. If this project is to meet DOT's goal of improving safety by reducing motorist-pedestrian conflicts, it may take more than signage to get drivers to follow the rules. And though the intersection already seems to function more efficiently, motorists continue to speed through it despite the constant presence of pedestrians, many of them seniors and children.

New concrete at the southeast corner, looking north on Broadway.
Fresh concrete at the southeast corner, looking north on Broadway.
New concrete at the southeast corner, looking north on Broadway.
A driver makes a prohibited left turn from southbound Broadway onto eastbound Dyckman.
A driver makes a prohibited left turn from southbound Broadway onto eastbound Dyckman.
A driver makes a prohibited left turn from southbound Broadway onto eastbound Dyckman.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Ossé: Bedford Ave. Bike Lane is Stuck in DOT’s ‘Community Engagement’ Purgatory

"Over the past couple weeks [the DOT] has been saying that they need to do more community engagement on the issue," the Council member said of the much-discussed project.

March 19, 2024

Cycle of Rage: Council Members Slam DOT for Successful Safety Projects

What do three street safety projects across the city have in common? Hypocrisy by some Council members, that's what.

March 19, 2024

Tuesday’s Headlines: Make America Grate Again Edition

A Sanitation worker made a larger political statement than merely parking illegally. Plus other news.

March 19, 2024
See all posts