Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Swedish construction group Skanska has been awarded a USD 163 million contract to develop a new public waterfront route along Manhattan’s East River. The agreement with the New York City Department of Design and Construction involves creating a connection between two existing recreational areas, improving access for pedestrians and cyclists. The contract, equivalent to approximately SEK 1.5 billion, will be recorded in Skanska’s US construction order book during the fourth quarter of 2026.
The development, known as the East Side Greenway 14th Street Connector, will connect East River Park with Captain Patrick J. Brown Walk. The project is intended to address a missing section of the waterfront route, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to travel more easily between the two locations without relying on alternative routes through surrounding streets.
Construction will involve creating a new public walkway along the river, with dedicated space for walking and cycling. The plans also include landscaping, seating areas, lighting and additional facilities designed to improve the experience of people using the waterfront. The improvements are intended to make the area more accessible while providing additional opportunities for outdoor recreation.
The investment reflects New York City’s continuing efforts to make its waterfront more accessible to the public. Establishing better connections between existing parks and pedestrian routes can improve movement through densely developed urban areas, particularly where major roads and other infrastructure limit direct access to the shoreline.
For surrounding neighbourhoods, the project is expected to provide another public amenity and improve connections to existing recreational facilities. Although waterfront improvements can contribute to the attractiveness of urban districts, neither Skanska nor the city has announced any associated commercial property development or quantified the project’s potential impact on nearby real estate values.
The scheme is currently approaching its design phase, which Skanska expects to begin shortly. Construction is scheduled to start in early 2028, with completion anticipated towards the end of 2030. The timetable places the main building works several years ahead, allowing time for design development and preparation before construction begins.
The contract represents a substantial addition to Skanska’s US construction activities. Its value will be recognised in the company’s fourth-quarter 2026 order bookings, although the announcement does not provide details of the project’s expected profitability or the distribution of construction expenditure across the delivery period.
Once completed, the new connection will extend public access along Manhattan’s eastern waterfront and provide a more continuous route between East River Park and Captain Patrick J. Brown Walk. The project illustrates the role of public infrastructure investment in improving urban accessibility and recreational facilities, while adding another major assignment to Skanska’s construction portfolio in the United States.
