As the only link between Bruckner Expressway and Cross Bronx Expressway to the Hutchinson River Parkway and destinations north, Unionport Bridge has upwards of 60,000 daily vehicle crossings.
Acrow Bridge says that two of its temporary modular steel lift bridges were installed to allow for uninterrupted vehicular crossings and vessel passage during replacement of the 65-year-old Unionport Bridge. Acrow’s bridges are carrying eastbound and westbound traffic on Bruckner Boulevard.
The project bid took place in 2017 and Acrow started the design of the lift bridges in Spring of 2018. The north lift bridge was commissioned in October 2019 and the south lift bridge in December 2019.
The detour lift bridges allows Unionport Constructors Joint Venture - owners of the bridge replacement project - to shorten the duration of the project, maintain seamless traffic throughout construction and build the new bascule bridge all at one time instead of using a phased construction approach.
The north lift bridge is 7.3m wide with 18m and 30m approaches and a 20m lift span. The south bridge, which is 9m wide, has 24m and 30m approaches with a lift span of 27m, as well as a 1.5m walkway off the south side of the entire 64m length.
The bridges are expected to be in service for two years and will vary in dimensions.
“Although there were challenges with the project that made it technically difficult during the installation stage such as an extremely congested construction site and a very small build area, we were able to successfully build, install, test and get the structures completely operational in a short period of time,” said Bob Rose, northeast regional sales manager at Acrow.
“As a full-service package, Acrow designed, supplied, and supervised installation of all the bridge components, all the electrical and mechanical, towers, crossheads, access platforms, walkways, control house platform, and maintenance walkways.”
Acrow Bridge operates in more than 80 countries, covering Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.
