Carmine Liberta Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Carmine Liberta Bridge is a two-lane steel through truss bridge over the Wallkill River
. It carries NY 299
over the river between the Town of New Paltz
on the west side and the Village of New Paltz
on the east.
It is the only way into the village from that direction. As such, it often carries heavy traffic on weekends between New Paltz and the Shawangunk Ridge
. Due to the flood plains on the western side it has been closed in periods of high water on the river.
Two other bridges had been built at the location of the Carmine Liberta Bridge: a wooden covered bridge, erected in 1845, and a 153 feet (46.6 m) iron bridge that had been built in 1891 at a cost of $677. The current bridge was built in 1940 and reconstructed half a century later, in 1990. In 2008 the village of New Paltz formally named it for Carmine Liberta, a lifelong resident and Korean War
veteran who had been active in local veterans' affairs and served as vice chair of the town Republican
committee for 25 years. Prior to its naming, the bridge was formally known as County Bridge No.135.
Wallkill River
The Wallkill River, a tributary of the Hudson, drains Lake Mohawk in Sparta, New Jersey, flowing from there generally northeasterly to Rondout Creek in New York, near Rosendale, with the combined flows reaching the Hudson at Kingston....
. It carries NY 299
New York State Route 299
New York State Route 299 is a short but important state route entirely within Ulster County, New York, United States. Centered around its interchange with the New York State Thruway outside New Paltz, it provides access from that road to the popular recreational attractions of the Shawangunk...
over the river between the Town of New Paltz
New Paltz, New York
New Paltz is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 14,003 at the 2010 census. The town is located in the southeastern part of the county and is south of Kingston, New York. New Paltz contains a village also with the name New Paltz...
on the west side and the Village of New Paltz
New Paltz (village), New York
New Paltz is a village in Ulster County in the U.S. state of New York. It is about north of New York City and south of Albany. The population was 6,818 at the 2010 census.The Village of New Paltz is located within the Town of New Paltz...
on the east.
It is the only way into the village from that direction. As such, it often carries heavy traffic on weekends between New Paltz and the Shawangunk Ridge
Shawangunk Ridge
The Shawangunk Ridge , also known as the Shawangunk Mountains or The Gunks, is a ridge of bedrock in Ulster County, Sullivan County and Orange County in the state of New York, extending from the northernmost point of New Jersey to the Catskill Mountains.The ridgetop, which widens considerably at...
. Due to the flood plains on the western side it has been closed in periods of high water on the river.
Two other bridges had been built at the location of the Carmine Liberta Bridge: a wooden covered bridge, erected in 1845, and a 153 feet (46.6 m) iron bridge that had been built in 1891 at a cost of $677. The current bridge was built in 1940 and reconstructed half a century later, in 1990. In 2008 the village of New Paltz formally named it for Carmine Liberta, a lifelong resident and Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
veteran who had been active in local veterans' affairs and served as vice chair of the town Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
committee for 25 years. Prior to its naming, the bridge was formally known as County Bridge No.135.