Managing construction of new pedestrian and cycling pathways at the water’s edge in Manhattan brought no shortage of challenges, said the project team. Access to the jobsite was limited, so many building materials had to be delivered by barge while concrete was pumped over long distances to reach appropriate access points.

GPS tracking was deployed to monitor construction barge locations and status in real time, enhancing safety through predetermined geo-zones and triggering alerts. Timelapse cameras and underwater drones equipped with cameras and sensors enhanced project safety and schedule by documenting progress, monitoring the work environment and inspecting submerged structures for any defects.

The COVID-19 pandemic added to project complexity, but the team said commitment and collaboration between engineers, architects, landscape architects and subcontractors helped members find the methods to deliver work to its precise specifications.

Elevated over the East River, the East Midtown Greenway serves as an alternative transportation route for pedestrians, with over seven city blocks of walking and bicycle pathways. The project was finished two weeks prior to the projected completion date, incorporating design and scope solutions along the way, such as sloped pavements and trench drains along the greenway’s edge that capture and filter stormwater as an irrigation system for plant life along the trail.

The greenway was also designed to withstand flooding and sea-level rise.