Elevated pathway connecting the High Line and Moynihan Train Hall opens

A new elevated pedestrian path connecting the High Line to Moynihan Tran Hall opens to the public this week. The 600-foot-long High Line-Moynihan Connector consists of two bridges, one full of lush landscape that runs along West 30th Street and another made of Alaskan yellow cedar wood that is suspended over Dyer Avenue. Officially opening on June 22, the $50 million project connects Manhattan West’s public plaza to a pedestrian pathway at West 31st Street, allowing commuters to easily and safely access the train station and the rest of Midtown West.

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and James Corner Field Operations, the High Line-Moynihan Connector includes two sections. The 260-foot-long Timber Bridge, a glulam Warren truss made from sustainably sourced wood from British Columbia, and the 340-foot-long Woodland Bridge, with deep soil beds that support large trees that will turn into a landscape for birds and pollinators.

The distinct bridges are connected by weathered steel decking and bronze handrails. The intersection of the bridges “creates a special moment of pause, allowing the visitor’s orientation to shift from east-west to north-south while moving from an immersive woodland experience to an immersive timber experience,” according to the architects.

Upon exiting Moynihan, visitors and commuters can cross 9th Avenue and enter Manhattan West’s public plaza, a 2.5-acre open space between 31st and 33rd Streets. From Manhattan West, pedestrians can enter the Timber Bridge, turn onto the Woodland Bridge, and reach the Spur of the High Line.

“The High Line – Moynihan Connector knits the city’s open spaces together—bringing greater accessibility to pedestrians across Midtown West’s major public amenities,” Kim Van Holsbeke, design principal at SOM, said.

“Both the Timber Bridge and the Woodland Bridge have distinct identities and expand the High Line’s rich tapestry of experiences. When walking from Moynihan Train Hall, through Manhattan West, across the two bridges, and to the historic High Line, travelers, residents, and commuters experience an episodic journey through some of the best civic spaces that New York has to offer.”

The High Line-Moynihan Connector was constructed as part of a $50 million public-private partnership among Empire State Development (ESD), the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Brookfield Properties Group, and Friends of the High Line. According to the governor, ESD contributed $20 million, Brookfield contributed $20 million, and Friends of the High Line contributed $10 million to the project.

“The High Line is an outstanding example of effective public-private partnership, and this latest addition will enhance this attraction for New Yorkers and visitors alike,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

“Thanks to state resources and the combined efforts of Friends of the High Line and Brookfield, the High Line – Moynihan Connector will add 600 feet of new open space to transform one of New York City’s busiest neighborhoods. This project is a testament to the power of smart, sustainable design, enhancing one of the most beloved parts of the city, and I encourage New Yorkers and visitors to take advantage of this beautiful new space.”

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo first floated a plan to connect the High Line to the new train hall in early 2021 as part of his plan to redevelop Midtown West.

The second High Line connection currently in the conceptual stage would extend the High Line westward to the Hudson River, starting at the northwestern end of the park and moving past the Javits Center, crossing the West Side Highway, and ending at Pier 76 in Hudson River Park.

RELATED: 

• 300-foot timber bridge connecting the High Line and Moynihan Train Hall has been installed
• See the elevated pedestrian pathway that will connect the High Line to Moynihan Train Hall
• See Cuomo’s proposal to extend the High Line to the new Moynihan Train Hall

Photos courtesy of © Andrew Frasz