BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Walking or biking from the South Side of Binghamton to the city's downtown just became a whole lot easier.

Friday afternoon, phase one of the 434 Greenway Trail was officially opened to the public.

A new path connects the South Washington Street pedestrian bridge to the Pennsylvania Avenue pedestrian underpass, ending at Vestal Avenue.

The project also makes improvements to safety by shortening crosswalks, adding fences and new warning lights.

"We've tried to take all of those details into account so that the traveler, people that are walking, people that are biking will really know exactly where the limits of this safer greenway is,” said DOT Region 9 Director Jack Williams.

The second phase of the project will be on the south side of State Route 434. That’s set to go out to bid sometime in 2019 with construction expected for 2020.