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|  Bridges Manhattan Bridge |  |
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Preserving History
The youngest of the three NYCDOT maintained suspension bridges that span the East River, the Manhattan Bridge was designed by Leon Moisseiff (1872-1943) and completed in 1909. Fitted with a splendid set of approaches designed by the renowned architectural team of Carrere and Hastings, the Manhattan Bridge is one of the most aesthetically pleasing of New York City's transportation structures.
Daily, the bridge accommodates some 75,000 vehicles, 320,000 mass transit riders and 3000 pedestrians/bicyclists between Manhattan and Brooklyn. It supports seven lanes of vehicular traffic as well as four subway tracks upon which four transit train lines operate.
The $834 million reconstruction program began in 1982 with Contract #1 and currently continues under Contract #11, scheduled for completion in April 2008. This work will be followed by an upcoming contract to rewrap the cables and replacing the suspenders and necklace lighting, scheduled for completion in 2012. The reconstruction will end with a seismic retrofit of the bridge slated for completion in 2014.
Work accomplished on the bridge to date includes; reconstruction of the north and south upper roadways, reconstruction of the north and south subway lines, installation of a truss stiffening system to reduce twisting, restoration of the Manhattan Plaza including the landmarked Arch and Colonnade, reconstruction of the south walkway, installation of a new north bikeway and replacement of the lower roadway.
In order to reduce traffic congestion and improve travel times the DOT has created an HOV2+ lane for Manhattan-bound cars and buses with two or more passengers that will be in effect from 6:00-10:00 am weekdays. New truck access regulations will also reduce congestion and improve safety; these will be in effect from 5:00 am to 3:00 pm weekdays. Both these changes took effect on Monday, October 1, 2007.
See a quick overview of these changes.
May use the upper roadway at all times. From 6:00 am to 10:00 am the left lane of the upper roadway is reserved for cars with two or more people and buses. Drivers to Manhattan may use the lower roadway from 5:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday to Friday. Drivers wishing to go to Canal Street westbound toward the Holland Tunnel (5:00 am 3:00 pm Monday to Friday and weekends) should use the lower roadway.
May use the upper roadway at all times and lower roadway from 3:00 pm to 5:00 am Monday to Friday.
Between the hours of 6:00 am and 10:00 am Monday to Friday cars with two or more people and buses may use the HOV lane to Manhattan (left lane of the inbound upper roadway). They may access the lane from the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) eastbound Exit 29A or from Flatbush Avenue (follow signs) or from the BQE westbound Exit 29 then turn right onto Gold Street or proceed straight onto Flatbush Avenue.Manhattan Bridge Traffic Pattern Changes Cars and Buses to Manhattan Cars and Buses to Brooklyn Accessing the HOV 2+ Lane Trucks to Manhattan Trucks to Brooklyn Weekends See the access map. In Manhattan the left turn from the upper roadway onto Canal Street at Chrystie Street is prohibited from 5:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday to Friday. Vehicles utilizing the HOV lane will have access to Chrystie Street northbound and Canal Street eastbound. Must use the lower roadway from 5:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday to Friday, during which time trucks will be prohibited from using the BQE eastbound Exit 29A “Manhattan Bridge.” During that time trucks must use the BQE eastbound Exit 29B “Brooklyn Civic Center/Tillary Street” to access the lower roadway at Flatbush Avenue. See the access map. Trucks may use the upper roadway at all times and lower roadway from 3:00 pm to 5:00 am Monday to Friday. Friday 9:00 pm to Monday 5:00 am the lower roadway will operate Manhattan bound. Manhattan bound cars and trucks may use the lower roadway or upper roadway. Manhattan bound drivers wishing to go to Canal Street westbound toward the Holland Tunnel should use the lower level. Pedestrians/Cyclists
The north bikeway is reopened and the south walkway has reverted to pedestrian use only.
Read the press release.Read more about the Manhattan Bridge. | |
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