Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
East Harlem

Eyes on the Street: Curb Extensions on Park Avenue in East Harlem

Crews install a concrete neckdown at Park Avenue and 111th Street. Photo: NYC DOT/Facebook
Crews install a concrete neckdown at Park Avenue and 111th Street. Photo: NYC DOT/Facebook
Crews install a concrete neckdown at Park Avenue and 111th Street. Photo: NYC DOT/Facebook

People crossing Park Avenue in East Harlem often have a tough time seeing cars coming down the street. A stone viaduct that carries Metro-North trains overhead reduces visibility for walkers, cyclists and drivers alike. This week, DOT poured concrete for neckdowns at East 111th Street as part of a larger street safety project.

The neckdowns at 111th Street expand the short sidewalk in the median below the train viaduct, allowing pedestrians to safely stand in a visible location before crossing the street.

Some intersections on Park Avenue in East Harlem already have the concrete curb extensions, while others wait for them. Photos: Stephen Miller
Some intersections on Park Avenue in East Harlem already have the concrete curb extensions, while others wait for them. Photos: Stephen Miller
Some intersections on Park Avenue in East Harlem already have the concrete curb extensions, while others wait for them. Photos: Stephen Miller

Neckdowns were installed at 104th and 105th Streets in 2009 as part of a school safety project. More are coming to the rest of the Park Avenue stone viaduct, between East 96th and East 111th Streets, as part of a project proposed last year and supported by Community Board 11.

Park Avenue is a notable danger zone for cyclists. Despite a high number of bicycle crashes on Park, including three fatalities at East 108th Street since 2012, DOT has not revealed any plans to add bicycle infrastructure to the street.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Culture of Can’t: What Happened to Mayor Adams’s Promise for Secure Bike Parking?

Will the city's first real safe bike parking project flounder?

March 17, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: Don’t Kill Congestion Pricing Edition

The Trump administration's faux deadline for New York to turn off congestion pricing is this Friday. Plus more news.

March 17, 2025

Mayor Adams Abruptly Calls Off Planned Queensboro Bridge Pedestrian Path Opening

The Queensboro Bridge's long-awaited pedestrian path was in the works to open this weekend — until Mayor Adams intervened.

March 14, 2025

DOT Report Reveals How Eric Adams Kneecapped Progress on Bus and Bike Lanes

The agency offers an explanation for its shortcomings, even trotting out a "We told you so" from the former mayor's transportation commissioner.

March 14, 2025

Public Grilling: Queens Panel Berates Opponents of Bob Holden’s E-Bike Registration Bill

Queens cyclists who came out to oppose an e-bike registration bill faced hostile questions from their local community board.

March 14, 2025
See all posts