Work on a major redesign aimed at making Central Park’s six-mile loop safer for pedestrians and cyclists is set to begin Monday night.

The first phase of the project, which includes milling and repaving the park’s drives, will focus on the southern portion of the loop, from West Drive at 96th Street to East Drive at 90th Street, the city’s Department of Transportation said. The northern section will be addressed next year.

The agency plans to redraw lanes along the loop to make the designations between pedestrian and cyclist space clearer.

It will also introduce a “flex lane” for faster cyclists and essential vehicles by repurposing the park’s now-outdated vehicle lane.  

(Image courtesy of the Department of Transportation)

Existing traffic lights at crosswalks will be replaced by new traffic lights with bicycle symbols, while “warning signage” may replace traffic lights at low-volume crosswalks, the DOT said.

In a statement, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the redesign will “prioritize pedestrian safety while also better accommodating cyclists and legal e-mobility options.”

"Turning Central Park's drives into car-free spaces has allowed the city to reimagine how the park loop can best reflect the needs of parkgoers,” Rodriguez said.

DOT officials said the redesign takes cues from a study published last fall that recommended creating clearer distinctions between pedestrian and cycling lanes.

Paving will occur on weeknights from 9 p.m. to around 4 a.m., the DOT said.

In an attempt to leave no roadway segments unpaved on weekends, milling is planned for Monday through Wednesday nights, while paving is expected to follow on Thursday and Friday nights, the agency said.

The DOT said Central Park’s drives will not be closed during construction, but the agency is warning bikers and pedestrians alike to exercise caution when traveling on the milled sections.