New York, NY – The Willis Avenue Bridge that links Manhattan and the Bronx is being replaced. The main span – a 350’ steel truss swing bridge – for the replacement of the Willis Avenue Bridge was barged down the Hudson River from where it was constructed in Coeymans, NY. The nearly five million pound structure arrived at its temporary home in Jersey City, NJ on July 14. In August, the swing span will be floated up the Harlem River to its final location.

From preliminary to final design, and now construction support services, Hardesty & Hanover provided comprehensive engineering services for the full project on behalf of the New York City Department of Transportation – Division of Bridges.

The swing span is the centerpiece of this $612M bridge replacement project. The new bridge and ramps will greatly improve the connections to the FDR Drive into Manhattan and to the northbound Major Deegan Expressway.

Building the new truss off-site has allowed the existing bridge to remain in use during this time. After installation of the new bridge is completed this fall, the existing bridge, which has a swing span and a single flanking through-truss span, is to be taken out of service.

The project team also includes the Willis Avenue Bridge Company (Resident Engineer) and the joint venture of Kiewit Constructors, Inc./Weeks Marine, Inc. (Contractor).