Road & Bridges Names High Bridge One of the Top 10 Bridges of 2015

Road & Bridges Magazine has awarded New York's High Bridge Aqueduct over the Harlem River with an award as one of the Top 10 Bridges of the year 2015.

The High Bridge, decommissioned since 1970, is the oldest bridge in the city of New York, opened originally in 1848 as a means of delivering water to Manhattan. Today, the bridge features a 466-ft-long, three-hinged steel arch spanning the Harlem River and 10 extant granite arches spanning Harlem River Drive, I-87, Metro North Railroad and a smattering of other city streets. The shared-use bridge is being constructed with preservation and rehabilitation methods in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Preservation of Historic Properties. The bridge also will be ADA compliant.

HIGH BRIDGE OVER THE HARLEM RIVER

LOCATION: Bronx, New York City, N.Y.

COST: $52 million

LENGTH: 1,450 ft

DESIGNER: TranSystems

CONTRACTOR: Schiavone Construction Co. LLC

OWNER: City of New York Parks and Recreation

Preservation Alumni to Hold Fall Work Day at Highbridge Park on September 19

For this year’s Fall Work Day, Preservation Alumni, a non-profit organization of friends and alumni of the Historic Preservation Program of Columbia University, is heading to Washington Heights to work in Highbridge Park with the New York Restoration Project. The High Bridge – New York City’s oldest standing bridge – is finally open again after more than 40 years. Built in 1848 and originally called Aqueduct Bridge, the pedestrian walkway reopened this year, connecting Manhattan and the Bronx over the Harlem River. After working in Highbridge Park, they will have lunch and head down to the bridge to hear more about its restoration from someone familiar with the project. 

Please note: 

 New York Restoration Project will provide all the materials needed including gloves, sunscreen, and bug spray, and will direct what needs to be done. Stay tuned for specifics on where to meet closer to the 19th!

 Work will be outside in a park, so wear closed-toed shoes and pants (note: there may be poison ivy)

 Bring a water bottle!

Where: Highbridge Park (Depending on where the meeting point will be, take the 1 train to 181st or 191st)

When: Saturday, September 19th, 10am – 12pm (followed by lunch and a talk/tour)

Celebrating the Reopening of the High Bridge

While the scaffolding has not all been removed and other items here and there that still remain to be done, the High Bridge officially opened this morning, June 9, 2015, amid much pomp and circumstance.  Visitors to this historic New York iconic landmark can now cross the Harlem River on a bridge without having to deal with the motorized traffic so common to most other bridges.  The views are breathtaking.  The vision to restore the High Bridge has been a long time in coming.

For more information on the opening see the NYC Parks and Recreation announcement.

and Streetblogs post.  See also the WCBS video.
The New York Times has now logged in to the activities with an article.
Here is the Washington Post article.
City Journal has also posted an article celebrating the opening of the High Bridge.
Spoiled.nyc has also chimed in with an article.
The Bronx Times has also let us know about the bridge.