Newtown Creek/English Kills Bridge Replaced?

When was the drawbridge replaced at the other end of Newtown Creek - on the Bushwick Branch. This one: Photo: forgotten-ny.com

Thank You. Any current views of this locale?

It is still there and intact, however it was shortened. The West portion where the inner counterweight is was removed (I am guessing it was sinking..) and replaced with I beams, so it is about 30 feet shorter. All the wood trestle was replaced with I beams, and the stone blocks were encapsulated with concrete. It has not opened since about 1955 when the basin was filled in.

This is a fairly rare Bobtail swing bridge. Not many were ever built.

Its official name as far as I know is the Montrose Ave. Swing Bridge.

It looks verrrry different now, at least on top. There's a walkway on the north side.

When was the work done? I recall a thread on here maybe 10 years back about the bridge being completely replaced. I searched and couldn't find it. If I recall right it took 2 or 3 months, and service west of it was suspended during that time.

No doubt its the same bridge, just shorter.

Ðauntless wrote:No doubt its the same bridge, just shorter.

I hate to break it to you, but it is not shorter.

Ðauntless wrote:No doubt its the same bridge, just shorter.

What do you mean by shorter?

Uncle Cheapo wrote:

Ðauntless wrote:No doubt its the same bridge, just shorter.

I hate to break it to you, but it is not shorter.

I beg to differ.

Original as built, still complete:
http://tabeckett.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... id=4355929" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
25 panel swing.

Current:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mitchwaxm ... 3/sizes/o/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
15 panels left. The western potion was removed at the joint plate right under the steps of C70. The swing gear was removed, as was the wood trestle, which was replaced with I beams, and the granite blocks were encapsulated with concrete.

Same bridge, just 25-30' shorter.

Thank you, Dauntless for the factual information response.

These are 2 different angles. Tom Beckett's faces north, Mitch Waxman's faces south.

The approach on the west end doesn't seem any shorter now (at least on in person observation), and neither photo really shows the west end. (I'm talking about the whole bridge, not just the former swing span).

I didn't know it was a bobtail bridge - I always heard it was a swing bridge but I had assumed the more common center swing.

None of this answers the original question: what year was the work performed? If the bridge itself wasn't replaced, it was clearly re-decked. The walkway on the north edge isn't there in Kevin Walsh's photo.

Larger: http://hostthenpost.org/uploads/9a5450d ... b51422.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Same side as Tom's photo. Bridge was cut at the splice plate.

Mr. Becketts Photo showing where it was cut.
http://hostthenpost.org/uploads/34ff031 ... 4afeb1.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maps photo.
http://hostthenpost.org/uploads/d35bc03 ... 00fbed.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Top arrow is where the bridge currently ends. Lower arrow is the original end, site of a new concrete pier. You can also see the semi circle pilings where the swing gear was mounted.

Redeck was done about 8 years ago, dont know when it was shortened.

This is making way more sense now. Interesting that the part that was cut off is where the the bridge used to pivot from.

Who cares what's underneath it. The span is still the same!

The bridge stayed at original lenght,only the main span was shortened to fit between the new pier and the
original pier across the channel.

Uncle Cheapo wrote:Who cares what's underneath it. The span is still the same!

Nerds. Yes, we're nerds, and proud.