Pedestrians crossing W37th Street near the Lincoln Tunnel are being forced into live traffic lanes after an icy sidewalk went uncleared during recent snowfall — and a reader says 311 told her it could take 72 hours to address.
Melinda Caudill has called 311 twice about conditions on the south side of W37th Street’s elevated bridge section. Photo: Catie Savage
“It’s just complete ice,” said Hell’s Kitchen resident Melinda Caudill, who lives on W37th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues. “It’s dangerous to the point that people are walking in the street.”
Melinda reached out to W42ST after calling 311 twice about the conditions on the south sidewalk of the elevated bridge section along W37th Street — the stretch that carries traffic toward the Lincoln Tunnel and runs alongside major Port Authority construction work tied to the long-planned replacement of the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
In a video shared with W42ST, pedestrians can be seen stepping into the active roadway because the south sidewalk on the West 37th Street bridge is snow-packed and icy, leaving little safe space to pass. In contrast, the north sidewalk — within the adjacent construction zone and closed to pedestrian traffic — appeared clear, and in at least one section, treated with salt.
When W42ST visited the bridge early Monday evening, the south sidewalk was still slick with a thick layer of ice and packed snow. We watched several people lose their footing as they tried to cross, and saw multiple pedestrians step off the sidewalk into the street to avoid the worst patches.
The south sidewalk is covered in a thick sheet of ice while the north sidewalk, which is in a construction zone and closed to pedestrians, is completely clear. Photos: Catie Savage
“We don’t have anywhere to walk other than the street or on a very, very dangerous sidewalk,” Melinda said. “I’ve never seen it this bad.”
According to Melinda, 311 told her that sidewalk clearing was not the City’s responsibility and advised her to call back if conditions persisted after 72 hours. But she said the combination of winter weather, ongoing construction and limited pedestrian space means the situation is hazardous in real time — especially for older residents, families and anyone with mobility issues.
Additionally, the city’s enforcement options are limited in situations like this. While the Department of Sanitation is responsible for enforcing snow and ice removal rules on sidewalks, it cannot issue fines or violations to other government agencies. That means if a sidewalk is under the control of a public authority or government entity — rather than a private property owner — DSNY’s usual enforcement tools do not apply, even when conditions remain hazardous.
The area has seen significant construction activity in recent months as plans advance for a new Port Authority Bus Terminal complex, with staging, lane shifts and changing pedestrian paths becoming part of daily life for locals.
A man walking his dog on the icy south sidewalk on W37th between 9th and 10th Avenues. Photo: Jorge Corona
W42ST has reached out to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for comment, including clarification on who is responsible for snow and ice removal on this stretch of sidewalk and whether additional pedestrian protection measures will be put in place during winter weather.
This story will be updated if more information becomes available.
If you have seen other sidewalks in Hell’s Kitchen that have not been cleared, drop the locations in the comments below.
People walking in the street to avoid the ice. Video: Melinda Caudill