Willis Avenue Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Willis Avenue Bridge is a swing bridge
that carries road traffic northbound (and bicycles and pedestrians both ways) over the Harlem River
between the New York City
boroughs
of Manhattan
and the Bronx
, United States
. It connects First Avenue
in Manhattan with Willis Avenue in the Bronx. The New York City Department of Transportation
is responsible for maintaining and operating the bridge.
Runners of the New York Marathon have dubbed it "the wall" because it marks the 20 mile mark on the run.
sought to replace the bridge. In an effort to preserve the structure, the city offered it for sale for $1, with free delivery within 15 miles. Due to the difficult logistics of moving the structure, there were no bids as of March 2007. Granite from the structure was given to a nearby park while the metal part was moved via tug to Jersey City
on April 12, 2011, the steel melted and the concrete parts made into fill.
The Department of Transportation opted to construct a new structure to the south of the existing bridge at a projected cost of $417 million. On March 8, 2007, when bidding for construction was opened, of the two bids offered, the lowest came in at $612 million. Iris Weinshall
, the department commissioner, said that the city must go forward with the project because maintenance of the existing bridge is expensive and the design of the ramps contribute to frequent accidents. This will be the most costly bridge construction project by the New York City Department of Transportation. Weinshall expected the project to last five years with construction beginning around the end of 2007.
The replacement bridge was constructed at Port of Coeymans
, 10 miles south of Albany. On July 13, 2010, the bridge was shipped down the Hudson on two barges that were welded together. The new bridge is 350 feet long, 65 feet high and 77 feet wide; it required three tugboats to propel it. The sight of the floating bridge caused a stir among onlookers all along the Hudson. After a stay at Port Jersey
in Jersey City
it was towed up the East River to its destination on Monday morning, July 26. Motor traffic was shifted to the new bridge on October 2, 2010, though the walkway of the old bridge continued to serve pedestrians and cyclists for a few weeks.
Just upstream, the Third Avenue Bridge carries southbound traffic across the Harlem River from the Bronx to Manhattan as the other side of a one-way pair
. That bridge was replaced in 2004.
"Willis Avenue Bridge" is also the name of a song by David Berkeley
from his 2009 album Strange Light.
Swing bridge
A swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its centre of gravity, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right...
that carries road traffic northbound (and bicycles and pedestrians both ways) over the Harlem River
Harlem River
The Harlem River is a navigable tidal strait in New York City, USA that flows 8 miles between the Hudson River and the East River, separating the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx...
between the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
boroughs
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It connects First Avenue
First Avenue (Manhattan)
First Avenue is a north-south thoroughfare on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan, running from Houston Street northbound for over 125 blocks before terminating at the Willis Avenue Bridge into The Bronx at the Harlem River near East 127th Street. South of Houston Street, the...
in Manhattan with Willis Avenue in the Bronx. The New York City Department of Transportation
New York City Department of Transportation
The New York City Department of Transportation is responsible for the management of much of New York City's transportation infrastructure...
is responsible for maintaining and operating the bridge.
Runners of the New York Marathon have dubbed it "the wall" because it marks the 20 mile mark on the run.
Old bridge
The bridge opened in 1901, at an original construction cost of $1,640,523.11 and a land cost of $803,988.37. Major reinforcing work was done in 1916. It once carried both directions of (no longer designated) New York Route 1A and later northbound NY 1A only.New bridge
In November 2005, New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
sought to replace the bridge. In an effort to preserve the structure, the city offered it for sale for $1, with free delivery within 15 miles. Due to the difficult logistics of moving the structure, there were no bids as of March 2007. Granite from the structure was given to a nearby park while the metal part was moved via tug to Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
on April 12, 2011, the steel melted and the concrete parts made into fill.
The Department of Transportation opted to construct a new structure to the south of the existing bridge at a projected cost of $417 million. On March 8, 2007, when bidding for construction was opened, of the two bids offered, the lowest came in at $612 million. Iris Weinshall
Iris Weinshall
Iris Weinshall is a vice chancellor at the City University of New York and a former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation...
, the department commissioner, said that the city must go forward with the project because maintenance of the existing bridge is expensive and the design of the ramps contribute to frequent accidents. This will be the most costly bridge construction project by the New York City Department of Transportation. Weinshall expected the project to last five years with construction beginning around the end of 2007.
The replacement bridge was constructed at Port of Coeymans
Port of Coeymans
The Port of Coeymans is a relatively new marine terminal located about ten miles south of Albany, New York and the Port of Albany-Rensselaer in the town of Coeymans, USA. The port is located on the site of the former Powell & Minnock Brick Company, and is sometimes referred to as the P&M Brick...
, 10 miles south of Albany. On July 13, 2010, the bridge was shipped down the Hudson on two barges that were welded together. The new bridge is 350 feet long, 65 feet high and 77 feet wide; it required three tugboats to propel it. The sight of the floating bridge caused a stir among onlookers all along the Hudson. After a stay at Port Jersey
Port Jersey
Port Jersey is an intermodal freight transport facility that includes a container terminal located on the Upper New York Bay in the Port of New York and New Jersey. The municipal border of the Hudson County, New Jersey cities of Jersey City and Bayonne runs along the long pier extending into the bay...
in Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
it was towed up the East River to its destination on Monday morning, July 26. Motor traffic was shifted to the new bridge on October 2, 2010, though the walkway of the old bridge continued to serve pedestrians and cyclists for a few weeks.
Just upstream, the Third Avenue Bridge carries southbound traffic across the Harlem River from the Bronx to Manhattan as the other side of a one-way pair
One-way pair
A one-way pair, one-way couple, or just couplet is a pair of parallel, usually one-way streets that carry opposite directions of a signed route or major traffic flow, or sometimes opposite directions of a bus or streetcar route....
. That bridge was replaced in 2004.
"Willis Avenue Bridge" is also the name of a song by David Berkeley
David Berkeley
David Berkeley, born David Berkeley Friedland on 22 September 1976 in New Jersey, is an American singer and songwriter.He has released four studio albums, one live album and has published a book, all of them self-produced under the Straw Man label, in a recording career that begun in 2002.Berkeley...
from his 2009 album Strange Light.