Greenpoint Avenue Bridge

The Greenpoint Avenue Bridge is a drawbridge that carries Greenpoint Avenue across Newtown Creek between the neighborhoods of Greenpoint, Brooklyn and Blissville, Queens in New York City. Also known as the J. J. Byrne Memorial Bridge, the bridge is named after James J. Byrne, who served as Brooklyn Borough President from September 1926 until he died in office on March 14, 1930. Previously, Byrne was the Brooklyn Commissioner of Public Works.[2]

Greenpoint Avenue Bridge
From Brooklyn
Coordinates40°44′00″N 73°56′25″W
CrossesNewtown Creek
LocaleBrooklyn and Queens, New York City
Official nameJ. J. Byrne Memorial Bridge
Maintained byNew York City Department of Transportation
Preceded byPulaski Bridge
Followed byKosciuszko Bridge
Characteristics
DesignBascule bridge
Width70 feet (21 m)
Longest span180 feet (55 m)
Clearance below26 feet (7.9 m)
History
Opened1987
Statistics
Daily traffic31,622 (2016)[1]
Location

History
Opened for a ship, viewed from Newtown Creek

The Greenpoint Avenue Bridge is the sixth bridge to cross Newtown Creek in this location. In the 1850s, Neziah Bliss built the first drawbridge, which was called the Blissville Bridge. It was followed by three other bridges before being replaced by a new bridge in March 1900.[3] A new bridge opened in 1929 and after suffering from mechanical problems it was replaced by the current structure in 1987.[4]

Designed by Hardesty & Hanover, the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge was the recipient of an American Institute of Steel Construction Award in 1991.[5]

The bridge while open, viewed from Brooklyn

On March 30, 2009, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a press conference at the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge, announcing that it would receive $6 million in federal stimulus funds, which will be used to rehabilitate the bridge.[6]

In 2011, the NYCDOT proposed an extension of the existing Greenpoint Avenue bike lane on the Brooklyn side across the bridge into Queens. The project was completed in 2015.[7]

References
  1. "New York City Bridge Traffic Volumes" (PDF). New York City Department of Transportation. 2016. p. 9. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  2. "J.J. Byrne Park Historical Sign". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
  3. "Greenpoint Avenue Bridge Over Newtown Creek". New York City Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 21, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
  4. "State Will Build New City Bridge". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 6, 1984. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
  5. Guide to Civil Engineering Projects In and Around New York City (2nd ed.). Metropolitan Section, American Society of Civil Engineers. 2009. pp. 45–46.
  6. Lisberg, Adam (March 30, 2009). "Brooklyn Bridge to get face-lift thanks to Feds, says Bloomberg". Daily News. New York. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
  7. "NYC DOT Completes Installation of Protected Bike Lanes on Greenpoint Avenue Bridge, Connecting Queens and Brooklyn" (Press release). New York City Department of Transportation. July 2, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
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