Replacement of the Myrtle Avenue Viaduct

The original 100 m long Myrtle Avenue Viaduct was constructed in 1913 and carried two critical New York City Transit (NYCT) subway tracks in Brooklyn. The geometric configuration of the viaduct weaves through a narrow corridor on a NYCT-owned private right-of-way with multiple adjacent properties, including occupied houses straddling the viaduct on both the east and west sides. Many of these residents and businesses had to be relocated during the 10-month replacement process. Constant operation and exposure to the elements resulted in severe deterioration of the original viaduct leaving it in a state of disrepair. Factoring risk, cost and existing conditions of the structure, the engineer’s assessment led to a proposed design alternative beyond the client’s expectations, which originally called for replacement of the superstructure only. The designer recommended an entirely new structure and promised completion within the same time frame as the originally planned partial replacement.