This page is located on the NYC.gov Web site at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bridges/harlem.shtml Bridges Harlem River Bridges Wards Island Bridge Willis Avenue Bridge Third Avenue Bridge Madison Avenue Bridge 145th Street Bridge Macombs Dam Bridge West 207th Street/University Heights Bridge Broadway Bridge Wards Island Bridge over the Harlem River The Wards Island Bridge is a pedestrian bridge connecting the East 103rd Street in Manhattan to Wards Island. Along the river, the bridge is located between exits 14 and 15 of the FDR Drive. This vertical-lift bridge has a total of twelve spans. Spans one through four are located on the Manhattan side of the bridge and are oriented from south to north. At span five the bridge turns from west to east. The curb-to-curb width of the lift span is 3.66m. The clear width of the Manhattan approach ramp is 3.66m and the clear width of the Wards Island approach ramp measures about 3.76m. The first known bridge to Wards Island (formerly Great Barn Island) was built in 1807 with the money of two private citizens, Philip Milledolar and Bartholomew Ward, to aid their cotton business on the small island. This wooden drawbridge, connecting East 114th Street in Manhattan to the northwest corner of the island, lasted until 1821, when a storm destroyed all but the stone piers. The current pedestrian bridge was built in 1951. It was designed to accommodate visitors to Wards Island's park, stadium, psychiatric hospitals, and athletic facilities. Wards Island Bridge Facts Bridge ID Number 2-24062-0 Borough Manhattan Type V. Lift Telephone (212) 369-5810 Location FDR Drive @103rd Street Waterway Harlem River Miles from Mouth 0 Channels 1 Used by Ped Length 1247' Max. Span 312 Roadways 0 Sidewalks 1 - 12′ Construction Cost $2,160,031.01 Land Cost free Total Cost $2,160,031.01 Date Opened Oct. 11, 1941 Third Avenue Bridge over the Harlem River Third Avenue is a local City street, running north from the Bowery and Fourth Street in Manhattan to Webster Avenue in the Bronx. DOT has undertaken a $118 million project to replace the previous Third Avenue Bridge, which opened on August 1, 1898. It replaced an earlier obsolete iron swing bridge at the same site. The initial deck carried two trolley tracks, which were eliminated in 1928 during a reconstruction effort to accommodate automobiles. In the early 1900's, electric operating equipment replaced the original steam equipment. Major reconstruction in the mid-1950's reconfigured the bridge from four trusses (three deck sections) to three trusses with two roadways of two lanes each. During the same period a span was constructed over the Harlem River Drive with access to it, and several of the approaches were rebuilt. The Third Avenue Bridge carries traffic south from Third Avenue, East 135th Street, Bruckner Boulevard, and Lincoln Avenue in the Bronx, to East 128th Street, East 129th Street, Lexington Avenue, and the Harlem River Drive in Manhattan, traveling over the Metro- North Railroad Oak Point Link, the Harlem River, and Harlem River Drive. The main span over the Harlem River is a swing-type bridge. It is located about 750 meters south of the Madison Avenue Bridge and 600 meters northwest of the Willis Avenue Bridge. The project to replace the Third Avenue Bridge over the Harlem River is substantially complete and is in the process of being closed out. All five travel lanes are completely open to traffic and no further lane or bridge closures will be required. Both channels of the Harlem River through the work zone are also open for navigation. The contractor continues to demobilize from the work site, perform final cleanup, address remaining minor work items, and complete all documentation in preparation for Final Inspection and Acceptance of the project. DOT has resumed operations and maintenance of the swing span and mariners may continue to request a bridge opening in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard regulations. Third Avenue Bridge Facts Bridge ID Number 2-24006-9 Borough Manhattan/Bronx Type Swing Telephone None Location E. 129th Street/3rd Avenue & Bruckner Blvd Waterway Harlem River Miles from Mouth 1.9 Channels 2 Used by Hwy Length 2800' Max. Span 300 Roadways 2 - 26′ Sidewalks 2 - 9′ Construction Cost $1,783,411.82 Land Cost $2,213,664.64 Total Cost $3,997,076.46 Date Opened Aug. 1, 1898 Madison Avenue Bridge over the Harlem River Madison Avenue is a local street, located between Fifth and Park Avenues on the east side of Manhattan. The road extends from 23rd Street in Manhattan to East 138th Street in the Bronx. The Madison Avenue Bridge is a four-lane, four-span swing bridge, carrying traffic between Madison and Fifth Avenues and East 138th Street in Manhattan and East 138th Street and Grand Concourse in the Bronx. The bridge is located approximately 650 m south of the 145th Street Bridge and about 750 m north of the Third Avenue Bridge. The bridge has two roadways, each 8.23 m wide, as well as two 2.743 m sidewalks. In 1874, residents in the vicinity asked for the construction of a bridge from 1 38th Street (then in Westchester) to Madison Avenue in New York, and funds were appropriated the following year. Due to the uneven topography and relatively undeveloped landscape, the proposed bridge required substantial pier and approach construction. The superstructure, composed of iron, was contracted to the Keystone Bridge Company in 1882. The swing bridge was opened in 1884 at a cost of $509,106. The area's growth quickly necessitated the construction of another, larger bridge. The current bridge opened on July 18, 1910, at a cost of $1,155,987. Madison Avenue Bridge Facts Bridge ID Number2-24007-9 Borough Manhattan/Bronx Type Swing Telephone (718) 993-1441 Location W. 138th Street/Madison Avenue E. 138th Street Waterway Harlem River Miles from Mouth 2.3 Channels 2 Used by Hwy Length 1892' Max. Span 300 Roadways 2 - 27′ Sidewalks 2 - 9′ Construction Cost $1,506,475.84 Land Cost $633,547.12 Total Cost $2,140,022.96 Date Opened Jul. 18, 1910 145th Street Bridge over the Harlem River 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. 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. 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 fencing, lighting, and signals. A new Operator's House has been centered and installed. Download a detailed description of the project (pdf). The new 145th Street The recently re-constructed bridge floating under the 3rd Avenue Bridge was Brooklyn and Manhattan swung open to allow the bridges. new 145th Street bridge to float by. Reaching its final The last few feet can be destination at 145th Street. the most difficult as the bridge must be perfectly lined up with the rotating axis in the middle of the river. 145th Street Bridge Facts Bridge ID Number 2-24008-9 Borough Manhattan/Bronx Type Swing Telephone None Location Lenox Avenue/145th Street & E. 149th Street Waterway Harlem River Miles from Mouth 2.8 Channels 2 Used by Hwy Length 1603' Max.