About
Recap of Phase 1 and 2
Over the course of the past decade, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in close coordination with NYS Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), Empire State Development (ESD) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) successfully removed 3 miles of the former Robert Moses Parkway (also known as the Niagara Scenic Parkway) along the Upper Niagara River (above the falls) and Niagara River Gorge rim/Lower Niagara River (below the falls).
The first phase of parkway removal was completed in 2018 after extensive planning and environmental review. A one-mile segment along the Upper Niagara River within Niagara Falls State Park was converted from an expressway into a pedestrian-friendly park road and landscape evoking Frederick Law Olmsted's original "Riverway" design. Additional enhancements included a roundabout, signature entryway, path system, nature areas, and a pond feature.
Phase 2 focused on a corridor from Main Street to Findlay Drive. After public feedback, the Main to Findlay segment advanced to construction. This two-mile section along the Niagara Gorge rim was removed between Main Street and Whirlpool State Park, with expressway lanes, a viaduct, and interchanges replaced by trail networks and gorge overlooks. Nearby Whirlpool Street and part of Third Street were reconstructed as slower two-lane roads with improved pedestrian access. Phase 2 concluded in fall 2021.
What we're doing now...
Spanning roughly 6 miles, the focus area for this next phase of the project stretches along the Niagara Gorge and Lower Niagara River between Findlay Drive in Niagara Falls northward to Center Street in Lewiston. Key roadways within the study corridor progressing north are: the Parkway, Whirlpool Street, Lewiston Road (New York State Route 104), Hyde Park Boulevard, Upper Mountain Road and the end point of Interstate 190 at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, Military Road, and culminating at Center Street in Lewiston.
During Phase 3, all concepts proposed in the 2013 Niagara Gorge Corridor Project scoping document will be evaluated. Elements of this phase may include the elimination of expressway elements between Findlay Drive in Niagara Falls to Center Street in Lewiston, and replacing them with smaller-scale, at-grade road sections, open space amenities, and/or pedestrian and bike path enhancements.
Historic Context
Since the Robert Moses Parkway's (RMP) completion nearly 50 years ago, the surrounding community and parklands have undergone significant changes, prompting reassessment of the need for this limited access highway.
Originally intended as a scenic, efficient route connecting nearby parks, attractions and communities as part of a broader parkway system, the RMP was built to serve anticipated growth that never fully materialized, and Niagara Falls' population has dropped by 50% since 1960. The underutilized, oversized 4-lane highway now conflicts with current priorities like economic development, local business support, preservation of the cherished Niagara Gorge rim, and unimpeded pedestrian/bicycle access from adjoining neighborhoods. The RMP's value has been called into question due to shifting community goals, population decline, and greater awareness of natural assets coupled with a robust nearby transportation network.
Schedule
Coming soon!
Existing Conditions
