Third Avenue Corridor Redesign Announced

The death of a nurse in a hit-and-run accident in August 2026 accelerated a long-debated infrastructure project in Brooklyn. On Oct. 28, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Department of Transportation commissioner Mike Flynn unveiled a plan to redesign 2.1 miles of Third Avenue in Sunset Park.

The initiative responds to a decade of fatalities on the corridor. In the past ten years, 17 people died in accidents on this stretch of road. The most recent incident involved Jiayi Zheng, who was killed in August. The current roadway configuration features six moving lanes and a total width of 150 feet. This width forces pedestrians to cross a distance equivalent to half a football field to reach the opposite side.

The redesign will occur in two distinct phases. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027. The first phase covers the segment between 62nd Street and 43rd Street. It also includes a section of 60th Street located between Second Avenue and Fourth Avenue. The second phase will address the area from 43rd Street to 20th Street during 2028.

Physical changes to the street will include new pedestrian islands and barriers within the center median. These barriers are designed to shield the protected bike lanes. The department will also reorganize the medians to create more orderly parking with metered spaces. The city cites data from similar projects, stating that such redesigns have reduced traffic deaths and injuries by 30 percent.

Mamdani stated that the project aims to create calmer intersections and shorter crossings. He said, “We know what keeps New Yorkers safe on our streets: calmer intersections, shorter crossings, protected bike lanes and ambitious redesigns that put people first.” Councilmember Alexa Aviles, who represents Sunset Park, noted that the street has caused fear and grief in the community. She added that the redesign starts at the most problematic portion to help local students and families cross with ease of mind.