The Replacement of the Willis Avenue Bridge - 2010

In 2010, the New York City Department of Transportation completed the replacement of the Willis Avenue Bridge. First constructed in 1901, the Willis Avenue Bridge carries over 70,000 vehicles each day and is part of the route of the New York City Marathon. The new bridge was build almost entirely off-site, minimizing disruption to motorists and creating some beautiful images as the new bridge was floated into place up the East River in July. The $612 million project to replace the old swing span bridge, is part of more than $5 billion in bridge investments made by the Bloomberg Administration. The new bridge will eliminate tight curves on the existing span and create improved, direct connections to the FDR Drive in Manhattan and to the northbound Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx. The design includes wider travel lanes with shoulders, and a wider pedestrian and bicycle pathway along the north side of the bridge. The new bridge will have a solid riding surface instead of the existing open grating deck. The old bridge will be floated down the Harlem and East Rivers to New Jersey to be recycled.