This New York State Department of Transportation project reconstructed three bridges at the Long Island Expressway (I-495) (LIE)/Grand Central Parkway (GCP) interchange in Queens County, New York City, including the LIE mainline and two service roads between the 112th Street Pedestrian Bridge and the Flushing Meadows Park Pedestrian Bridge (about half a mile). The work also included constructing two new bridge structures on the LIE, rehabilitation of the approach roadways, and other incidental work.

West of the interchange, the GCP heads north to provide access to the northernmost points in Queens, ultimately leading to the RFK Bridge. Simultaneously, the LIE continues west southwest through Elmhurst and Maspeth, ultimately leading to the Queens Midtown Tunnel. These roadways play a critical role in connecting Long Island with New York City and LaGuardia and JFK Airports. The LIE is also a primary route for freight and commercial traffic moving through the area.

The reconstructed bridges are a 300-foot-long, 93-foot-wide bridge carrying the mainline LIE over the GCP; a 300-foot-long, 42-foot-wide bridge carrying the LIE eastbound service road over the GCP; and a 300-foot-long, 42-foot-wide bridge carrying the LIE westbound service road over the GCP. The decks and steel structures for all three bridges were replaced, and the bridges were widened to create shoulders where none existed. Additionally, to enhance mobility in the westbound direction, the Van Wyck Expressway’s entrance lane to the westbound LIE mainline was extended, providing a longer merge distance and reducing traffic congestion.

There were two 20-foot-wide gaps between service road bridges and the mainline bridge. Two new bridge structures were constructed in these two spaces to widen the three existing bridges, forming a new bridge structure about 220 feet wide.

H&H CS provided detailed construction inspection services to ensure the construction work was performed in accordance with the contract documents. Services performed included detailed inspection, on-site field testing of materials, field measurement, and data collection necessary to submit monthly and final estimates of payments to the contractor, progress reporting, and preparation of record plans showing all changes from the contract plans.

National Honor Award
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC National) Engineering Excellence Awards
Diamond Award
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC New York) – Engineering Excellence Awards