Port Authority Bus Terminal rebuild sends Lincoln Tunnel buses onto West 39th Street
Buses from the Lincoln Tunnel now detour on Midtown streets while the terminal's ramps are rebuilt. The Port Authority expects the slowest trips during the weekday evening rush.
Since Thursday, Oct. 15, buses coming into the Port Authority Bus Terminal from the Lincoln Tunnel have taken a detour on Midtown streets. The change is part of the ramp phase of the terminal’s $11 billion replacement.
Port Authority bus reroute: what changes for riders
Buses arriving from the tunnel and from Dyer Avenue now go to West 39th Street, then get back onto the terminal’s ramps near Tenth Avenue. Crews need that space to tear down the old ramps between the tunnel and the terminal and build new ones. The Port Authority expects longer trips, and the weekday evening rush will probably be hit hardest.
The dedicated bus lane into the Lincoln Tunnel is not changing. Once buses leave the tunnel, though, they still have to deal with local traffic. Traffic agents will work key intersections to keep the new pattern moving. The agency says buses will keep running for the whole construction period. Riders should allow extra time and check their bus company’s service alerts before they leave.
Port Authority Bus Terminal construction timeline
The first phase is scheduled to run through the end of 2030, and the full replacement is targeted for 2035. That is a slip from the agency’s December 2024 schedule. Back then, the Port Authority expected the temporary terminal and the new ramps to be done by 2028, with 2032 as the finish date for the main building.
The work happens in stages, all on Port Authority property. A new building for bus storage and staging will serve as a temporary terminal while the current main terminal is torn down and rebuilt. Construction of the Dyer Avenue deck-overs, which will let the new terminal be built while buses keep running, is already underway, according to Port Authority Bus Terminal redevelopment.
The finished main terminal is planned at five floors with more than 180 gates. It will have a central skylight, clearer signs and better connections to the subway. New ramps will run directly to the Lincoln Tunnel. Buses waiting between trips will park in their own storage space instead of idling on neighborhood blocks. The plans also include accessible facilities, shops facing the street and over three acres of open space for the public.
Quick answers
When did the Port Authority bus reroute start?
The detour for buses coming from the Lincoln Tunnel and Dyer Avenue began on Thursday, Oct. 15.
Will buses stop running at the Port Authority Bus Terminal during construction?
No. The Port Authority says bus service will continue for the whole construction period.
When will the new Port Authority Bus Terminal be finished?
The first phase is expected to end in late 2030, and the full replacement is targeted for 2035.
