Livingston Avenue Bridge
Livingston Avenue Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 42°39′16″N 73°44′30″W / 42.65431°N 73.741777°W |
| Carries | Amtrak, CSX and CP Rail |
| Crosses | Hudson River |
| Locale | Albany and Rensselaer, New York |
| Other name(s) | North Bridge or Hudson River Bridge |
| Owner | CSX Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Pratt through truss with swing span |
| Total length | 1,272 feet (388 m) |
| Longest span | 259.9 feet (79.2 m) |
| No. of spans | 1 truss swing span, 4 truss spans, 4 girder spans |
| History | |
| Constructed by | New York Central Railroad |
| Fabrication by | American Bridge Company |
| Construction start | 1901 |
| Opened | 1902 |
| Location | |
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| References | |
| BridgeHunter.com | |
The Livingston Avenue Bridge is a railroad bridge over the Hudson River in New York connecting Albany and Rensselaer. The original structure was built in 1866 by the Hudson River Bridge Company but was replaced in 1901-02. A rotating swing bridge span allows large ships to proceed up the river.
The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) has identified the bridge as a critical link in its Empire Corridor passenger rail line, and has initiated a study project for bridge rehabilitation or replacement.
Operation
The bridge is owned by CSX Transportation. It is most frequently used by Amtrak for east-west travel in New York, as well as freight trains of CSX and CP Rail. The bridge hosts an active railroad interlocking tower and Amtrak block operators staff the tower 24 hours a day. They are responsible for directing rail traffic around Amtrak's Rensselaer Terminal as well as opening and closing the bridge. Due to the deteriorated condition of the bridge, trains cross one at a time at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h). DOT considers the swing bridge mechanism to be unreliable and the overall bridge design inadequate for current railroad operating standards. The bridge opens for ship traffic about 400 times per year.[1]
History
The Hudson River Bridge Company was incorporated April 9, 1856. Work on the bridge was begun in April 1864. The earlier Green Island Bridge had opened to the north in Troy in 1835, but required the longer route of the Schenectady and Troy Railroad west from Troy. The new bridge, called the Hudson River Bridge, was to connect directly to the New York Central Railroad on the west (Albany) side of the bridge and to the Hudson River Railroad, Troy and Greenbush Railroad and Boston and Albany Railroad on the east (Rensselaer) side. The turntable bridge was 4800 feet (1500 m) long, with a clearance of 30 feet (9 m) from high water when closed.
The first engine, the Augustus Schell, passed over the bridge on February 18, 1866. Passenger trains started using it on February 22. After the Maiden Lane Bridge was constructed a bit further south, the Hudson River Bridge was used mostly for freight trains and the few passenger trains that passed by Albany but did not need to stop there. The Maiden Lane Bridge was often referred to as the "South Bridge" and the Hudson River Bridge as the "North Bridge". In the winter of 1866, once travel patterns were set, Cornelius Vanderbilt, owner of the Hudson River Railroad, suddenly refused to allow any transfers from the New York Central. The New York Central board gave in, and in 1867 Vanderbilt acquired the company, and in 1869 merged it with the Hudson River Railroad to form the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. This gave the New York Central a majority of ownership in the company; in 1900 the New York Central leased the Boston and Albany.
The current bridge was constructed in 1901-2 and was named the Livingston Avenue Bridge.[2] At the time the original Hudson River Bridge was constructed Livingston Avenue had been named Lumber Street, as it led to the Albany Lumber District.
Rehabilitation study
As of 2012, DOT is evaluating whether to rehabilitate or replace the structure. The cost to replace the bridge was estimated at $50 million in 1998.[3] Decisions about rehabilitation will include consideration of upgrading the bridge to accommodate high speed rail traffic. Funding for construction has not yet been allocated.[1] One matter of contention is whether the project will restore the closed public walkway over the bridge. Doing so would greatly improve pedestrian access between Albany and Rensselaer, but the bridge owner, CSX, is citing safety concerns.[3][4]
See also
References
- ^ a b New York State Department of Transportation, Albany, NY. "Livingston Avenue Bridge. Project I.D. No. 1935.49." Accessed 2012-08-07.
- ^ "Brother Donnelly's Letter". The Bridgemen's Magazine. 1 (12). Pittsburgh: International Assn. of Bridge & Structural Iron Workers: 428. 1902.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) Letter to Editor from H.F. Donnelly, Albany, June 19, 1902. - ^ a b "Livingston Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation and Waterfront Master Planning". Capital District Transportation Committee, Albany, NY. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
- ^ Stephen Williams (2012-03-18). "New railroad bridge may be shared with hikers, bikers" (PDF). Schenectady Daily Gazette. p. A6.
- The Albany Railroad Bridge, Harper's Weekly 1866
- The Bridge at Albany, New York Times February 24, 1866, page 1
- AllOverAlbany.com. "The Livingston Avenue Bridge." 2011-02-28.
Crossings of the Hudson River | ||||
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- Bridges over the Hudson River
- Railroad bridges in New York
- New York Central Railroad bridges and tunnels
- Boston and Albany Railroad bridges and tunnels
- Buildings and structures in Albany, New York
- CSX Transportation bridges and tunnels
- Bridges completed in 1866
- Bridges completed in 1901
- Swing bridges in the United States
- Transportation in Albany, New York