79th Street West Side Highway Ramp Closure Coincides with NYC Congestion Pricing Rollout

New York City motorists navigating the West Side Highway face a dual challenge this summer as the 79th Street Rotunda Complex project enters a critical phase, requiring the full closure of its southbound exit ramp, just months after the city's new $9 congestion pricing program took effect. The timing has drawn sharp criticism from some residents, including X user Jeff Park, who described the situation as "impossibly convenient."

The extensive rehabilitation of the West 79th Street Rotunda Complex, a $150 million undertaking, commenced in early 2022 with an anticipated completion in 2026. This multi-year project aims to modernize the deteriorating 1937 structure, which facilitates traffic flow between the West Side Highway and 79th Street, while also enhancing pedestrian and cyclist access to Riverside Park. A significant development in the project includes a full closure of the roadway level and exit ramp scheduled for summer 2025, rerouting southbound traffic to alternative exits.

This closure coincides with the implementation of New York City's Central Business District Tolling Program, commonly known as congestion pricing, which began on January 5, 2025. The program charges a $9 fee for passenger vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street during peak hours, with the primary goals of reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, and generating revenue for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)'s capital improvements.

The simultaneous nature of these major traffic alterations has fueled public frustration. Jeff Park, in a tweet, voiced his discontent, stating, "How impossibly convenient that the 79th st exit on west side highway, after ten years of 'construction' finally broke ground now so that all cars have to go down to 54th street and pay the illegal congestion tax to come back home up. You can’t hate these people enough." His remarks reflect a sentiment among some drivers who perceive the congestion charge as an undue financial burden.

The congestion pricing program itself has been embroiled in numerous legal battles since its inception. While federal judges have largely upheld the MTA's right to implement the tolls, the program faced a significant challenge in February 2025 when the Trump administration attempted to revoke its federal approval. The MTA immediately filed a lawsuit to counter this move, and despite the political maneuvering, the tolls have remained in effect pending judicial rulings.

Early data released by the MTA indicates a 7.5% decrease in traffic entering Manhattan's Central Business District during the first week of congestion pricing, with reported improvements in travel times. Both the 79th Street project and the congestion pricing initiative represent significant efforts to modernize infrastructure and manage urban mobility in New York City, albeit with considerable impact on daily commutes.