Buffalo, NY (WBEN)  A new traffic ramp will be built on the US side of the Peace Bridge in 2015, one that will make Front Park whole for the first time in decades.

The new ramp will connect the Peace Bridge Plaza directly to the 190 north, part of the New York Gateway Connections improvement project, which will reconfigure access to the U.S. Peace Bridge Plaza, reducing congestion and improving traffic flow for both commercial and private vehicles.

“This project is a win for the City of Buffalo, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy and the Peace Bridge plaza neighborhood because it will provide efficient and effective traffic movement between New York State and Canada and improve commerce between the two economies,” Governor Cuomo said. “By removing Baird Drive and having Peace Bridge traffic utilize Porter Avenue and the Thruway, we will move traffic away from a residential neighborhood, provide better border security and restore the historic character of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Front Park.”

The plaza enhancements will include:

· Reconfiguring traffic flow to a single point of ingress and egress to and from the plaza.
· Adding a direct connection from the U.S. Plaza to the northbound Thruway I-190.
· Adding a new access point to the Peace Bridge from the City of Buffalo via Porter Avenue.
· Removing Baird Drive from Front Park.

“Frederick Law Olmsted envisioned Front Park as Buffalo’s ‘public face’ to our northern neighbors,” said Congressman Brian Higgins, who in 2010 joined with the Olmsted Parks Conservancy in calling for the preservation of Olmsted’s gateway vision for Front Park. “This significant investment by the Governor continues our efforts to streamline the flow of traffic across our borders while enhancing the corridor that welcomes visitors into the City of Buffalo, both of which improve the neighborhood while building new economic opportunities for our city and region.”