City Completes Reconstruction of Clifford Place Step Street in Morris Heights

August 28, 2019

DOT: Alana Morales, 212-839-4850, AMorales4@dot.nyc.gov
DDC: Ian Michaels, 718-391-1589, MichaelsI@ddc.nyc.gov

(Bronx, NY – August 28, 2019) NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Lorraine Grillo announced today that the City has completed a $9.4 million restoration of the historic Clifford Place Step Street in the Bronx. The project was funded by DOT and managed by DDC.

“Step streets are important neighborhood links in the hilly areas of the Bronx, and we’re very pleased to work with our partners at DOT to restore this one for the community,” said DDC Commissioner Lorraine Grillo. “The Clifford Place Step Street leads to Grand Concourse and helps people access public transportation as well as nearby shops and healthcare facilities.”

“I am so happy to announce the completion of the Clifford Place Step Street, connecting Walton Avenue to one of the Bronx’s most vital and iconic corridors – the Grand Concourse,” said DOT Bronx Borough Commissioner Nivardo Lopez. “Step streets play such an important role in connecting the communities of the Bronx, and we thank DDC for their work on this project.”

The Clifford Place Step Street has 78 steps and seven landings, and connects Walton Avenue at its lowest point to Grand Concourse at its peak. Over many decades the steps had become cracked and misaligned and the underlying base of the structure had deteriorated. The project completely rebuilt the site.

The old steps have been replaced with new granite steps with silicone sealed joints and an anti-graffiti coating. The retaining walls have been completely remodeled with 800 square feet of stone to support the step street’s structure. More than 300 feet of new hand rails have been installed and more than 2,500 square feet of new concrete sidewalks were poured on Walton Avenue and Grand Concourse.

Four new benches and five new trees have been added, along with eight new street lights featuring 75-watt LED lights. A new internal drainage system is designed to prevent water damage to the structure, while a new granite bike channel helps people walk their bikes up and down.

There are 64 step streets in the Bronx. In May 2019, DDC and DOT celebrated the re-opening of the West 229th Street Step Street following a $10.7 million renovation project.

The contractor for the project was LAWS Construction Corp. The design consultant was URS Corporation and engineering services were provided by TECHNO Consult, Inc.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $14 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.