Whitestone Expressway Bridge Replacement

Rank #9
Cost: $177 million

Add the Whitestone Expressway Bridge to the list of massive bridge projects under way in the New York City region.

A joint venture between Tully Construction Corp. and AJ Pegno Construction Corp. began work in February on a project awarded by the New York State Department of Transportation to replace the northbound bridge over the Flushing River in Queens.

The current structure, built in 1937, is a drawbridge that handles more than 85,000 vehicles each day. It will be replaced with a continuous span made of high-performance steel tub girders. Rated grade 485, the steel will resist corrosion and require less maintenance. The project is scheduled to be completed in four stages, with overall completion set for August 2006.

There is a $2.5 million incentive in place for contractors to finish the job early.

The project involves removal of 76 spans of the superstructure - including the Northbound Whitestone Expressway (Bascule Bridge) over the Flushing River - and their replacement with new superstructure and substructure. The roadway surface will get a new asphalt overlay.

Specific improvements under this reconstruction project include rehabilitation of the southbound Whitestone Expressway ramp to the southbound Van Wyck Expressway, construction of the new northbound Van Wyck Expressway ramp to the northbound Whitestone Expressway, rehabilitation of the northbound and southbound Whitestone Expressway from Linden Place to Third Avenue, and replacement of the northbound Astoria Boulevard approach/Whitestone Expressway bridge structure.

Another goal of the project is to improve the structures so that they meet current state roadway, bridge safety and operational guidelines. Among those improvements is the installation of a new Intelligent Transportation System that will include closed-circuit television to monitor traffic conditions in "real time" and provide traffic managers at the centrally located traffic management center with instant information.

In response, traffic managers can activate strategically located variable message signs that notify motorists of problem spots or construction activity.

Other planned improvements include a new and improved concrete bridge deck and underdeck lighting system, installation of a new and improved drainage and downspout system, construction of flush shoulders and widening of travel lanes on the Whitestone Expressway.

Workers also have the task of minimizing interruption to motorists. To maintain all travel lanes during the job, a temporary span will be constructed over the river.

Back to list >>