GARRISON- Construction to replace the aging deck on the 101-year-old Bear Mountain Bridge will be getting underway this spring.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced Friday that the $93.8 million project which was approved by the NYS Bridge Authority’s Board of Commissioners last month will consist of three major phases scheduled for completion by December 2028.
The bridge was last re-decked in the 1970s. Concrete decks typically last between 30 and 50 years, depending on traffic and weather conditions. The new lightweight concrete deck is designed to handle heavier modern truck loads and is expected to last more than 50 years.
In making the announcement, Hochul said: “Over a century ago, the Bear Mountain Bridge played a groundbreaking role as a connecting link for the Hudson Valley and gateway into the Hudson Highlands. Through this deck replacement project, we will strengthen and enhance this vital bridge for the continued benefit of New Yorkers for generations to come.”
The project involves more than replacing the roadway surface.
Sidewalks, which currently vary in width, will be widened to five feet on both sides to better align with Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The bridge that connects Putnam and Westchester with Orange and Rockland counties serves as a key pedestrian link for Appalachian Trail hikers and visitors to nearby parks.
Additionally, concrete barriers separating pedestrians from traffic will be modernized, drainage systems will be upgraded, and four new scenic overlooks, two on each side, will be added so pedestrians can safely pause and take in views of the Hudson River and the surrounding Highlands.
As part of the redesign, the Bridge Authority will also install steel mesh-style climb-deterrent fencing along the sidewalks.
State Senator Peter Harckham praised the addition, calling it a life-saving feature.
“This will save countless lives in the years to come. We have been working to get to this moment for years,” he said.
Officials said incorporating the fencing into the larger construction project will save money compared to installing it separately.
The bridge opened on November 27, 1924 and was the first vehicular crossing of the Hudson River south of Albany and once held the record for the world’s longest suspended span. The state acquired the bridge in 1940, and in 2018, it was ceremonially renamed the “Purple Heart Veterans Memorial” Bear Mountain Bridge.
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