A dangerous intersection in the Bronx will soon be getting some safety improvements that pedestrians say is much-needed.

Residents in the area say that East Tremont Avenue in the Van Nest section of the borough has been unsafe to cross for years.

“I basically make sure that when I am crossing the main avenue, East Tremont, I'm taking the shortest crossing route,” one pedestrian told News 12.

City Councilman Ritchie Torres says the Department of Transportation is launching a new project to improve pedestrian safety in the area.

Torres says speeding is one of the main reasons why the road is so dangerous. "Speeding is so common on the East Tremont corridor,” he says. “One study found that 69% of the drivers were above the speed limit.”

As a result, the DOT says it will be upgrading pedestrian ramps and extending the northwest corner of East 180th Street at East Tremont Avenue. The aim of these changes is to increase pedestrian visibility and slow down some of the speeding cars.

Part of the DOT's plan will include building a median on East Tremont Avenue between East 180th Street and Van Nest Avenue. They are also going to build a pedestrian island on East Tremont Avenue.

Councilman Torres says the additional pedestrian islands won’t take away any parking spots. "We're going to manage to calm traffic and reduce speeding without causing the loss of parking and travel lanes,” he says.

Construction is set to begin soon. News 12 reached out to the DOT for specifics on how long the improvements will take and is awaiting a response.