AASHTO Journal - NYSDOT Completes Rebuild of Historic Stone Bridge

The New York State Department of Transportation recently completed the reconstruction of a historic bridge on U.S. Route 1 over the Mamaroneck River in Westchester County.

[Above photo by NYSDOT]

The agency said this project effectively rebuilt a 129-year-old stone arch bridge from the ground up, adding new structural supports to create a more durable structure that’s not only more accessible but that can better withstand floods and other severe weather impacts.

Marie Therese Dominguez. Photo via the New York Governor’s Office.

“The upgrades to the U.S. Route 1 Bridge will enhance safety for all users of the transportation system and allow the bridge to better withstand the heavy rains and flooding that are becoming more and more common as our weather changes,” explained NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez in a statement.

As part of the project, the original stone arch bridge was reinforced and strengthened with a cast-in-place concrete liner installed underneath the bridge and new foundation elements were drilled into the underlying rock.

[Editor’s note: Regular inspections allow state departments of transportation to keep track of structural issues that, over time, could require repair or eventual replacement of a bridge. The video below by the Georgia Department of Transportation provides a behind-the-scenes look into the bridge inspection process.]

Because of the six-to-eight-foot tidal influx of the river, NYSDOT said divers and special equipment were used to progress this project. The new bridge structure was constructed off trusses that spanned the entire width of the Mamaroneck River under the existing bridge.

The agency’s project also widened the bridge, installed new traffic signals, and added new pedestrian walkways and safety enhancements including signals, curb ramps and crosswalks.

The project also included the replacement of retaining walls and the embankment supporting Meighan Park, also known as Harbor Island Park; a small walking park, on the southwest corner of the bridge structure, NYSDOT noted.

Completion of the U.S. Route 1 Bridge marks the end of a $115 million project that began in 2020 to replace or upgrade several flood-prone bridges in lower Westchester County, the agency said.