Mt. Vernon New Haven Line Bridge Replacements

per the Journal News:

MTA bridge in Mount Vernon to get makeover Journal News 8.4.09

Metro-North Railroad’s Park Avenue Bridge in Mount Vernon, built in 1893, is being replaced thanks to a $10 million award in federal stimulus money, Gov. David Paterson announced this afternoon. The project will take 18 months.

Is that one of the bridges crossing the New Haven main near the Mt Vernon East station? Please enlighten us as to location of this

Just to the West of MTV E on NHL. It's the first bridge past the station. Next is 3rd Av and Gramatan Av.

What's going on? Any rail issues?

nope the bridge just west of Mt Vernon east is a pure town project

The MN B&B Dept is rebuilding it, ever soooooooooooooooooooooo slowly!!

Gotta stay employed!

When I was still with NYS OGS I worked on a design for a replacement of a pedestrian bridge at Sing Sing CF on the Hudson Line. Based on the MNRR documents, slowly is the only way anything could get built. It took NYS DOCS like 2 years to figure out how to get the insurance necessary. Which is hilarious to me that one state agency needs insurance to do something for another state agency over the property of a state authority.

I'm curious how they're getting anything productive done when you have only limited hours to work on the span.

all work is done on the span, all day and not a metro north truck in sight just contractor.

Here is some information about that project:

Governor Paterson Announces $10 Million in Stimulus Funding for Replacement of MTA Metro-North Railroad's Park Avenue Bridge

Governor David A. Paterson today announced the award of a $10 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the replacement of the Park Avenue Bridge in Mount Vernon. Built in 1893, the two-span bridge goes over the four New Haven Line tracks and an adjacent parking lot. The current structure cannot bear the weight of emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and fire trucks, along with larger commercial and transportation vehicles that must now find alternative routes. The improvements will enable the currently banned vehicles to use the new bridge, potentially improving traffic flow and reducing emergency response times. . . . .

Interesting info, thanks for posting that link.

MTA Metro-North Railroad to refurbish two bridges

Brief quote from an only slightly less brief blurb:

The three-track Oak Street Bridge that carries Harlem Line trains over the road on the city’s west side is being painted, while the two-lane Fourteenth Avenue Bridge that carries automobiles over the New Haven Line on the city’s east side will undergo $350,000 in priority structural repairs, Metro-North officials said in a prepared statement.

The Fourteenth Avenue Bridge, which was built in 1894 and straddles four electrified (third rail) tracks, is a 92-foot-long, single span, steel truss structure with steel floor beams and an asphalt-covered, timber deck slab. The span is supported by masonry abutments.

Last year, the railroad replaced the Park Avenue Bridge at a cost of $10.5 million and spent $213,000 to repair the Sixth Avenue Bridge.

Mt. Vernon complaining about the speed of bridge work: CBS Local

I left some of the rhetoric out.

Mount Vernon Mayor Says MTA Has Neglected Bridges Over Metro-North Tracks
...
To call the bridges obsolete is an understatement. The road bed is made out of wood, installed when most of the vehicles crossing them were pulled by horses.
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After a decade of lobbying and maneuvers, the MTA said it will begin to replace four of the bridges one at a time, starting next year.
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For its part, the MTA seems to acknowledge friction. In a statement, spokeswoman Nancy Gamerman said, “Given the mayor’s recent statement, we look forward to discussing this matter further with the city.”

The MTA plans to spend $27 million replacing the bridges over the next five years. Thomas said temporary bridges could be installed right away for a fraction of that price.

Seems unusual for the railroad to be responsible for these bridges rather than the state or city. I assume it goes back to when the NHRR grade separated these tracks?

Jon

Starting with 14th Ave. LoHud.com

...
Contractors hired by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority began preparing the century-old 14th Avenue Bridge for dismantling. The bridge will be closed for 10 months, the expected period to complete the project.

The work is the first of five bridge replacements in Mount Vernon over the Metro-North Railroad's tracks. The four other bridges targeted for replacement are at 10th, Sixth, Third and Fulton avenues.

The MTA and Mount Vernon jointly own the bridges. Two of those bridges at 10th and Third avenues have been closed for more than 10 years.
...