145th Street Bridge

145th Street Bridge, January 20, 2010
Rob Hickman on a 26", Keith Nelson on a 26", Michael Richter on a 20", Daryll John on a 20"


Michael Richter shows off his stuff.

From the New York City Department of Transportation:
145th Street is a four-lane local City street in Manhattan and the Bronx. The bridge connects West 145th Street and Lenox Avenue in Manhattan with East 149th Street and River Avenue in the Bronx. The location of the bridge is approximately 1,250m south of the Macombs Dam Bridge and 650m north of the Madison Avenue Bridge. The 145th Street Bridge is a swing type bridge with three through-trusses. It is an eight-span structure carrying four lanes of vehicular traffic over the Harlem River Drive, the Harlem River, and Metro-North Railroad. Spans 1 and 2 were constructed in 1957 when the bridge was extended to span the Harlem River Drive. Spans 6, 7 and 8 were reconstructed in 1990 in place of the original Bronx flanking span to provide a right-of-way for the Oak Point Link. The bridge carries four 3.6m lanes, two in each direction, plus a 2.7m sidewalk on each side of the bridge. The west and east approach roadways are 17m and 41m wide, respectively.

Towards the end of the 19th century, rapid growth in the vicinity created the need for an additional Harlem River crossing. The initial design of the bridge, by Alfred P. Boller working for the architectural firm of Messrs Clinton and Russell, was based on the recently built Macombs Dam Bridge, but was modified to accommodate an expected growth in travel across the river. The bridge was delayed due to the construction of an IRT subway tunnel under one pier, and finally opened in 1905. The construction firm was Rodgers, McMullen, & McBean, and the cost was $2,742,139.

The New York City Department of Transportation Division of Bridges is pleased to announce a major milestone in the reconstruction of the 145th Street Bridge over the Harlem River. Effective June 16, 2007, at 7:00 am, all four lanes of traffic (two lanes in each direction) will be open to motorists, and the north sidewalk will continue to be open to pedestrians.

Miscellaneous construction work will continue in order to complete construction. DOT engineers will continue to test the communications, electrical, and mechanical systems and perform inspections to ensure that all construction work has been satisfactory. DOT will close the bridge intermittently during overnight hours for the testing and punch list work.

The reconstructed bridge includes a new swing span, new machinery and an electrical system, a new approach roadway and spans, railing, fencing, lighting, and signals. A new Operator's House has been centered and installed. See a detailed description of the project in the brochure in pdf format.

Variable Message Boards will continue to display up-to-date information about the construction activities. Traffic Enforcement Agents will continue to direct traffic in the area during night time bridge closures.

Bridge Closures
The bridge was entirely closed to traffic on November 1, 2006 and the center swing span was removed. Following the removal of the existing swing span and reconstruction of the center pier, the new swing span was floated into place, connecting the Bronx spans with the Manhattan spans, on February 9, 2007. DOT reopened one lane in each direction and the north sidewalk on March 22, 2007.

After being assembled off-site, the new bridge was floated down the Hudson River, around the tip of lower Manhattan, up the East River and was moored near the recently reconstructed Third Avenue Bridge. In February 2007, when the preparatory work was complete, the new 145th Street Bridge was floated up the Harlem River to its final destination.