Today, officials from Empire State Development, Brookfield Properties, and Friends of the High Line cut the ribbon on the Moynihan Connector! This striking new connection to the High Line will offer pedestrians a safe and elevated pathway from West Midtown to the West Village when it opens to the public on Thursday, June 22nd. City commuters will appreciate the new connector’s access to public transit hubs like Penn Station and the Moynihan Train Hall, and marvel at its engineering.
Built in just 18 months for $50 million, the 600-foot-long, L-shaped Moynihan Connector includes two distinct sections. Above West 30th Street from The High Line’s terminus at the Spur is a richly planted Woodland Bridge. The second section is a block-long Timber Bridge, built from sustainably sourced Alaskan Yellow Cedar beams. It runs north above Dyer Avenue toward the adjacent Magnolia Court pedestrian plaza at Manhattan West.
The wooden bars you may have seen being lifted up to the High Line in May now make up a sleek addition to the already dynamic architecture that defines The High Line. Designed by James Corner Field Operations, who was a part of the High Line’s original design team, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, both bridges feature Corten steel decking and bronze handrails. The Woodland Bridge features 5-foot deep soil containers filled with trees and other greenery.
The project was initially proposed in January 2021, and the first designs were unveiled by Governor Kathy Hochul in September of that year. The Moynihan Connector represents a city-wide vision of connecting the neighborhoods, institutions, businesses, parks, and transportation hubs that define Manhattan’s West Side. “The High Line’s connection to Moynihan Train Hall and other nearby attractions complements our investments in Midtown West, encourages better pedestrian access, and provides New Yorkers with a truly one-of-a-kind experience,” said Governor Hochul.
Next, read about A Blazing Red Tree Sculpture On the High Line
