BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – A state judge on Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order to pause work on the billion-dollar Kensington Expressway project. A group known as the East Side Parkways Coalition (ESP) sought the injunction to stop progress on the project it derides as a "toxic tunnel." The federal government gave the green light to the project in February. The plan seeks to reconnect neighborhoods on Buffalo's East Side that were divided by the expressway by capping a portion of the six-lane roadway and turning the top into parks and green space, covering a span of about three-quarters of a mile above Route 33. Construction was expected to begin by the end of this year, with completion estimated by 2028. Community groups have expressed opposition to the project for months, citing concerns about air pollution and a lack of public input regarding the project. "ESP has retained legal counsel to challenge this proposal and to ensure NYSDOT complies with all applicable State laws," the group said Monday, when it held a rally to announce the filing of a court application to stop the State from awarding contracts, commencing construction or doing other work on the expressway. "The East Side Parkways Coalition urges Governor Hochul, NYS Chair of the Transportation Committee Senator Jeremy Cooney, and NYS Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes to take action and to require NYSDOT to prepare an EIS to guarantee a full analysis of the environmental impacts of the project, and to provide more healthful alternatives including the complete removal of the Kensington Expressway and the full restoration of Frederick Law Olmsted`s original Humboldt Parkway design," the group added. The restraining order was granted by State Supreme Court Justice Emilio Colaiacovo. "As Governor Hochul has said before, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to correct one of the most damaging planning injustices of the 20th Century, and we look forward to reconnecting this community soon," a spokesperson for Governor Kathy Hochul's office said in a statement Wednesday. Rendering for the Kensington Expressway project Courtesy of New York State Department of TransportationCourtesy of New York State Department of TransportationCourtesy of New York State Department of TransportationCourtesy of New York State Department of TransportationCourtesy of New York State Department of Transportation East Side Parkways Coalition seeks injunction Latest Local News NYS trooper seriously injured in September crash returns home after surgeries Allentown residents speak out after kidnapping, assault on Virginia Street Bills Mafia rallies around those affected by Hurricane Helene, prepares for Milton’s impact Buffalo String Works students are taking their talents to France Jury struggling to reach verdict in Bongiovanni retrial * * * Nick Veronica is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team as the Digital Executive Producer in 2021. He previously worked at NBC Sports and The Buffalo News. You can follow Nick on Facebook, Twitter and Threads. See more of his work here.