BUFFALO, N.Y. — The push to redesign Buffalo’s Kensington Expressway is set to become a reality.

The Restoring Our Community Coalition (ROCC) announced the city is set to receive $1 billion in state funds to improve Route 33.

A part of the expressway near the Museum of Science is expected to get an upper deck that will create greenspace. The goal is to reconnect the community and improve the environment.

“This is something that you have to wrap your head around when you think about the investment in a community that everyone walked away from in terms of investment in Western New York," said Stephanie Barber Geter, chair of ROCC. "This is a big deal, OK? Not just the money, but what it will start to trigger in the hearts and minds of the people who live here.”

Assembly Majority Leader Crystal People-Stokes said this is a multi-phase project with the upper deck addition being phase one, which should be built after an environmental impact study. They expect construction to begin in the next two years.