One half of the bridge would be built just north of the original structure, and the other half would be built in its place and joined to the other. When completed, the new span, which would be located 65 feet north of the original span, would be feet wide. The fourth plan, by Arvid Grant and Associates of Olympia, Washington, called for a dual-deck cable-stayed bridge that would sit on a giant concrete block.
It would be built directly south of the existing bridge, and after the old one was torn down, would be moved in its place on giant steel rollers. The fifth plan, by Schlaich und Partner of Stuttgart, Germany, called for a hybrid design incorporating features of suspension and cable-stayed bridges. The design features two suspension towers with dozens of cables stretched out along the sides of the structure.
The dual-deck bridge would be built on either side of the existing structure, and slid together on a giant Teflon plate when the old bridge is demolished. LEFT: When the towers of the Williamsburg Bridge were rehabilitated during the late 's, workers encased them in canvas to protect those on the bridge and below. The twin towers of the World Trade Center are visible in the distance. This photo was taken less than one month before the September 11 attacks. Photos by Dave Frieder, davefrieder.
This option was deemed to have the least detrimental impact on motorists and nearby communities. The project includes an overhaul of the bridge's four main cables, steel towers, stiffening trusses, and roadways.
Parsons Brinckerhoff, a worldwide engineering design firm, performed the design and construction support services of the various rehabilitation contracts. The late s and early s witnessed the completion of the following contracts: CONTRACT 4: This contract entailed the rehabilitation of the cable suspension system. Along the suspension span, the existing stringers and pedestals were replaced, and realigned closer to the rails.
New web reinforcement plates were installed along the floor beams. The connection of the vertical hangers that transfer the loads from the floor-beams to the main trusses through overhead transverse trusses were retrofitted by installing additional splice plates and replacing deteriorated rivets with new high-strength bolts.
This contract also included the completion of the pedestrian-bicycle path. The project included a new concrete-and-steel approach from the superstructure to the elevated structure for the subway lines. Subway service for about , daily riders was suspended for several months in during this phase of construction. This contract was completed in December New copper cable saddle housings are replacing older, rusting stamped-steel housings.
In addition, the truss bearings at the intermediate towers are being replaced. The new bearings feature a single large roller to minimize longitudinal and lateral forces transmitted to the towers.
Begun in March , this construction phase was completed in The Williamsburg Bridge carries approximately , vehicles per day AADT over its eight lanes, using two inner and two outer roadways.
Upon major completion of reconstruction except for Contract 8 in , it marked the first time since that all eight lanes were open to traffic simultaneously. The tolls would most likely be collected electronically since there is limited space to construct new toll plazas, and congestion peak-hour tolls would likely be implemented.
The transfer or sale would have required the approval of the City Council and the State Legislature. However, Governor George Pataki killed this plan. About Us. Our Book. Contact Us. Subscribe to our newsletter. Walking Tours. Become a Patron. Museum of the City of New York — But technically it was a bridge to yet another former city — Williamsburgh.
Below: Above the East River, the bridge under construction, Museum of the City of New York — Brooklyn could thank one very powerful politician for the bridge. Below: Jewish women praying on the Williamsburg Bridge Library of Congress Library of Congress How they envisioned the bridge in the fall of …. Library of Congress Believe it or not, the opening of the Williamsburg Bridge was actually captured on film by the Edison company. Start with these ten episodes first. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.
As the construction was nearing completion, a fire broke out in a worker's shack on top of the bridge's Manhattan tower on the afternoon of November 10, , causing damage to some of the wires in the main cables at the saddles. Although testing indicated that the wires nearly retained all of their strength and were still stronger than required, approximately wires were replaced and spliced together with the portions that were undamaged.
When Gustav Lindenthal was appointed as New York City's bridge commissioner in , he had reservations about the design and appearance of the bridge, but it was too far along in construction to make major changes. Leffert Buck's title was changed to consulting engineer and Lindenthal commissioned architect Henry Hornbostel to add some aesthetic improvements.
The Williamsburg Bridge was formally opened on the afternoon of December 19, to horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, and pedestrians trains did not begin crossing the bridge until Although the footpaths were not completed until April 24, , the bridge was opened at the request of Mayor Seth Low before he left office. The bridge's opening was celebrated by parades in Manhattan and Brooklyn, a parade of ships down the East River, and a fireworks display.
Less then ten years after the bridge opened, engineers noticed that the bridge would sag under the weight of heavy traffic. The bridge was subsequently modified to accommodate heavier car, all-steel trains and motor vehicles. The trolley tracks on the north side of the bridge were replaced with roadways for automobiles in , followed by the conversion of the trolley tracks on the south side of the bridge in Carrying rail, trolley and roadways for carriages and pedestrians, it was one of the last major bridges designed for the horse and carriage.
By the s, the automobile was the major mode of transportation and the trolley tracks were replaced with roadways. Currently, the bridge carries four two-lane vehicular roadways, a south roadway inner and outer and north roadway inner and outer , with two rapid transit tracks J, M, and Z subway lines sandwiched in between. A walkway and a bikeway also run across the bridge. The program was designed to undo the effects of age, weather, increased traffic volumes and deferred maintenance and prepare the bridge for another years of service to the City of New York.
Now that the DOT has completed work on Contract 7 , all of the bridges supports and roadways, walkways and subway tracks have been completely rebuilt. For the City of New York and the many users who drive, walk or ride across the bridge every day, a major component of the New York City infrastructure has been preserved for future generations. For the ongoing work on the bridge, DOT's goal is to minimize the impact on the traveling public and local community by expediting the project.
Contract milestone dates linked to a package of financial incentives and disincentives will either reward or penalize the contractor, depending on whether they meet or exceed the milestone dates. In , the South Outer Roadways were reconstructed and reopened nine months ahead of schedule and in , early completion of the Transit Structure allowed subway service across the bridge to be restored one month ahead of schedule.
In , the North Outer Roadway was reconstructed and reopened for traffic 50 days ahead of schedule on December On June 10, work on the North Inner Roadway was completed and reopened for traffic, 50 days ahead of schedule. The work on Contract 8 was started on March 3, The project is scheduled to finish in June, Architectural work will include the restoration of decorative lights and the Brooklyn granite stone monument.
Work inside the anchorage houses on both the Manhattan and Brooklyn sides will include the construction of new stairs, a hoisting system, ventilation and lighting, and oiling platforms. The work of painting the stiffening trusses on the South and North side began first. The painting of the South trusses Stage 1A started on June 1, and was completed on September 6,
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