A remarkable feat of engineering is on view at the foot of Lincoln Avenue, barely a 2 minute walk for ClockTowerTenants.
Both sections of the historic Willis Avenue Bridge-- the fixed arch span and the wavy rotating turnbridge section-- are floating on barges and anchored in the Harlem River right outside our door.
The Estey Piano Factory in our ClockTower and the Mott Haven IronWorks were driving forces behind the creation of this bridge. As the modern 1900’s were arriving some 15 years after our ClockTower’s opening, the expanding manufacturing in our neighborhood overwhelmed the Third Avenue Bridge. Another at First Avenue was clearly needed.
Four bridges can be seen in the above photo taken from the Third Avenue Bridge. (a fifth!) Floating in the foreground: the old bridge sections, between them in the distance: the replacement Willis Avenue bridge, the two towers are the TriBorough (now the Robert F. Kennedy) and the arch on the far right is the HellsGate, an Amtrak bridge to New England. The old Willis Avenue roadbed is being dismantled now.
From the Department of Transportation:
“In 1894 the State Legislature authorized a new bridge to be built in the same location where a ferry ran in the 17th century. After a delay due to a right-of-way conflict with the New Haven Railroad, the bridge opened on August 22, 1901, at a cost of $2,444,511. Significant work to strengthen the structure was performed in 1916, when the Union Railway Company routed a trolley line across the bridge.”
$612 million is the official cost to replace the existing "swing" bridge, which opens on a pivot to allow marine traffic to pass on the Harlem River. Perhaps the balance of the cost---over half a billion dollars-- was spent on higher labor costs, taxes, new bridge delivery from upstate, road reconstructions and access lanes from First Avenue and the FDR Drive.
The pivoting turntable has been revealed where the old bridge once attached.
And the circular base that once mated to it is also clearly visible on the barge.
There are 2,027 bridges in New York City.
Soon the sections will be floated away for scrap. Should you ever miss the old bridge, a symbolic section of the original will be showcased as a monument in Harlem River Park.
The King is dead.
Long live the King.
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