Macombs Dam Bridge: Difference between revisions

Macombs Dam Bridge
Macombs Dam Bridge
	view from the south (2014), Manhattan is to the left, the Bronx to the right
Coordinates	40°49′41″N 73°56′02″W / 40.8281°N 73.9339°W
Carries	four lanes of roadway
Crosses	Harlem River
Locale	Manhattan and the Bronx, in New York City
Maintained by	New York City Department of Transportation
Characteristics
Design	swing bridge
Total length	2,540 feet (770 m)
Longest span	408 feet (124 m)
History
Opened	May 1, 1895
Statistics
Daily traffic	44,311 (2011)
Location

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40°49′41″N 73°56′2″W / 40.82806°N 73.93389°W / 40.82806; -73.93389

The Macombs Dam Bridge spans the Harlem River in New York City, connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx near Yankee Stadium. It is the third-oldest bridge in New York City^[2] and, along with the 155th Street Viaduct, was designated a New York City Landmark in January 1992. The bridge is operated and maintained by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT).

History and description

The bridge is located 3.2 miles (5.1 km) from the mouth of the Harlem River. It consists of a swing bridge over the Harlem River decorated with four finials and with stone end piers with shelter houses, and a camelback span over the railroad tracks on the Bronx side. Construction began in 1890 and was completed in 1895^[2] at a total cost of $1.3 million. The bridge, which was designed by consulting engineer Alfred Pancoast Boller,^[3] opened on May 1, 1895.

The main swing span is 408 feet (124 m) long and provides two shipping channels with 150 feet (46 m) of horizontal clearance. When closed the bridge provides 25 feet of vertical clearance. The bridge's total length is 2,540 feet (770 m).

The current bridge is the most recent of several bridges in the area, the first of which – along with the since-demolished lock-and-dam system – opened in 1814. The wooden Central Bridge followed in 1861, to be replaced by the current bridge, which was also called the Central Bridge;^[2], a plaque bearing this name still be seen on the swing span. However the name never stuck, and the old name Macombs Dam Bridge remained in popular use. ^[4]

At the western end of the bridge is a long steel viaduct^[2] leading to the intersection of 155th Street and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard(Seventh Avenue), both of which end at the bridge. At the eastern end, a steel approach road leads to Jerome Avenue, which extends north into the Bronx and Westchester County.

Immediately to the north of the bridge was another swing bridge along which the now-demolished 9th Avenue El reached the Bronx and the IRT Jerome Avenue Line. That bridge was demolished sometime after this section of the 9th Avenue El ceased operation in 1958.

In 1999, the NYCDOT began a $145 million renovation of the Macombs Dam Bridge.

For 2011, the New York City Department of Transportation, which operates and maintains the bridge, reported an average daily traffic volume in both directions of 44,311; having reached a peak AADT of 55,609 in 1957.^[5]

Public transportation

The Macombs Dam Bridge carries the Bx6 bus route operated by MTA New York City Transit. The route's average weekday ridership is 21,973.^[6]

References

Notes

^ New York City Department of Transportation (October 2013). "2011 New York City Bridge Traffic Volumes" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-02-28.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission; Dolkart, Andrew S.; Postal, Matthew A. (2009). Postal, Matthew A. (ed.). Guide to New York City Landmarks (4th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-28963-1., pp.204-205
^ White, Norval; Willensky, Elliot; Leadon, Fran (2010). AIA Guide to New York City (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19538-386-7., p.547
^ "Macomb's Dam Bridge". bridgesnyc.com. 2010. Retrieved 2014-01-17. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
^ New York City Department of Transportation (March 2010). "New York City Bridge Traffic Volumes 2008" (PDF). p. 74. Retrieved 2010-06-27.
^ "Average Weekday NYC Transit Bus Ridership". MTA New York City Transit. 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-04.

External links

[1] New York City Department of Transportation (October 2013). "2011 New York City Bridge Traffic Volumes" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-02-28.

[nycland-2] New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission; Dolkart, Andrew S.; Postal, Matthew A. (2009). Postal, Matthew A. (ed.). Guide to New York City Landmarks (4th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-28963-1., pp.204-205

[aia5-3] White, Norval; Willensky, Elliot; Leadon, Fran (2010). AIA Guide to New York City (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19538-386-7., p.547

[Macomb's_Dam_Bridge-4] "Macomb's Dam Bridge". bridgesnyc.com. 2010. Retrieved 2014-01-17. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)

[ADT-5] New York City Department of Transportation (March 2010). "New York City Bridge Traffic Volumes 2008" (PDF). p. 74. Retrieved 2010-06-27.

[Average_Weekday_NYC_Transit_Bus_Ridership-6] "Average Weekday NYC Transit Bus Ridership". MTA New York City Transit. 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-04.

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 ==History and description==
-The bridge is located {{convert|3.2|mi|km}} from the mouth of the Harlem River.  It consists of a swing bridge over the Harlem River decorated with four finials and with stone [[bridge pier|end piers]] with shelter houses, and a [[camelback bridge|camelback span]] over the railroad tracks on the Bronx side.  Construction began in 1890 and was completed in 1895<ref name=nycland /> at a total cost of $1.3 million. The bridge, which was designed by consulting engineer [[Alfred Pancoast Boller]],<ref name=aia5>{{cite aia5}}, p.547</ref> opened on May 1, 1895.
+The bridge is located {{convert|3.2|mi|km}} from the mouth of the Harlem River.  It consists of a [[swing bridge]] over the Harlem River decorated with four finials and with stone [[bridge pier|end piers]] with shelter houses, and a [[camelback bridge|camelback span]] over the railroad tracks on the Bronx side.  Construction began in 1890 and was completed in 1895<ref name=nycland /> at a total cost of $1.3 million. The bridge, which was designed by consulting engineer [[Alfred Pancoast Boller]],<ref name=aia5>{{cite aia5}}, p.547</ref> opened on May 1, 1895.
 The main swing span is {{convert|408|ft|m}} long and provides two shipping channels with {{convert|150|ft|m}} of horizontal clearance.  When closed the bridge provides 25 feet of vertical clearance. The bridge's total length is {{convert|2540|ft|m}}.