Robert Fanuzzi is a member of Community Board 8’s Environment and Sanitation Committee who served as chair last year when CSO abatement was a top priority. He said that while the committee is not involved with this project, it had pushed for a piece of green infrastructure on this part of Riverdale Avenue for some time.

“We identified this as a high-flow area, which means water literally running down Riverdale Avenue,” he said. “It’s almost like a runway for the water to shoot right into the sewers and the Hudson River.”

Mr. Fanuzzi said the wide expanse of asphalt and the steep slope at West 236th Street makes the spot the perfect place for a piece of green infrastructure.

A design team has calculated that the Riverdale Avenue bioswale will capture approximately 90 percent of the storm water that would otherwise simply run down the road.

The idea for the project came from former northwest Bronx Councilman Oliver Kopel. His office identified the space as a spot for green infrastructure and allocated $75,000 to fund the project. The Green Infrastructure Unit was able to supplement the project with additional funds and began designing the bioswale this spring. A contractor began construction on the project, costing a total of $140,000, last month.

Mr. Kutok said his team worked closely with the Department of Transportation on the undertaking to make sure the bioswale would not cause any problems for traffic.

“It also aligns with the Vision Zero program,” he added, referring to the city’s mandate to eliminate traffic deaths. “[The bioswale] will be a refuge for pedestrians and create pedestrian safety at this intersection.”

Mr. Kutok said he expects the project to be finished by early December.