Broadway Bridge (Manhattan)

The Broadway Bridge is a lift bridge across the Harlem River Ship Canal in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It connects the neighborhoods of Inwood on Manhattan island and Marble Hill on the mainland. The bridge is named because it carries Broadway, which is also designated as US 9 at this location. The bridge carries the New York City Subway's IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line (1 train) above the road.

Broadway Bridge
From the west
Coordinates40°52′25″N 73°54′40″W
Carries6 lanes of US 9 (Broadway) (lower)
3 tracks of IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line ( train) (upper)
CrossesHarlem River Ship Canal
LocaleManhattan, New York City
Maintained byNew York City Department of Transportation
Characteristics
DesignDouble-decked Vertical lift bridge
Total length1,300 feet
Longest span560 feet
Clearance above15 feet (lower deck)
20.8 feet (upper deck)
Clearance below136 feet (41 m) (raised)
24 feet (7.3 m) (lowered)
History
OpenedDecember 26, 1960 (subway), July 1, 1962 (highway)
Statistics
Daily traffic36,027 (2016)[1]

History

Before the Harlem River was rerouted, Marble Hill was part of Manhattan island. The bridge in the area was named Kings Bridge, crossing the river on the border between Marble Hill and the Bronx. The Boston Post Road and Albany Post Road crossed this bridge.

The Harlem River Ship Canal was completed in 1895 and the old Kings Bridge was demolished. A total of three bridges spanned the canal at this location.

First span

The first Broadway Bridge, opened on January 1, 1895, spanned the canal. The 1895 bridge, a steam-powered swinging bridge, accommodated only highway and pedestrian traffic.

When a new span was built in 1905 (see § Second span), the original Broadway Bridge was relocated, becoming the University Heights Bridge between Inwood and University Heights, Bronx. In June 1906, the old bridge was floated down the river and placed on a newly constructed center pier. After all the approaches and other construction were completed, the new University Heights Bridge opened to traffic on January 8, 1908.[2]

Second span

In 1905, a bridge was constructed that could accommodate for the extension of the IRT subway line into the Bronx. The 1905 Broadway Bridge was also a swinging bridge, but a second deck was added to allow for subway traffic on the upper deck, and pedestrian and highway traffic on the lower deck.[3]

The last subway train crossed the previous Broadway Bridge on December 23, 1960. Over the next two days (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), the old bridge was removed and the already assembled new bridge floated and hoisted into position, opening to subway traffic on December 26, 1960.[4]

Current span

The present Broadway Bridge (opened to subway traffic on December 26, 1960 and highway traffic on July 1, 1962) has a navigable channel 304 feet (93 m) wide providing 136 feet (41 m) of vertical clearance when the bridge is in the open position. In the down position, the bridge provides 24 feet (7.3 m) of vertical clearance.

Traffic

In 2010, the New York City Department of Transportation, which operates and maintains the bridge, reported an average daily traffic volume in both directions of 37,292. The peak ADT over the Broadway Bridge was 42,555 vehicles in 1990.[5]

Public transportation

The Broadway Bridge carries the New York City Subway's 1 train. Immediately to the north of the bridge along this line is the Marble Hill–225th Street station.[6]

The bridge also carries the Bx7 and Bx20 local bus routes operated by MTA New York City Transit, and the BxM1 express bus route operated by the MTA Bus Company.[7]

See also
  • Transport portal
  • Engineering portal
  • New York (state) portal
  • New York City portal

References

Notes

  1. "New York City Bridge Traffic Volumes" (PDF). New York City Department of Transportation. 2016. p. 9. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  2. "West 207th Street/University Heights Bridge Over Harlem River". New York City Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on June 3, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2006.
  3. "2012 NYC DOT Bridges and Tunnels Annual Condition Report" (PDF). NYC Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  4. "Broadway Bridge (US 9)". www.nycroads.com. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  5. "New York City Bridge Traffic Volumes 2010" (PDF). NYC Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  6. "Subway Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. October 21, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  7. "Bronx Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. September 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
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