MTA Replaces Webster Avenue Bridge
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
MTA’s Webster Avenue Bridge replacement
MTA
MANHASSET, N.Y. - The MTA replaced the 128-year-old Webster Avenue Bridge in Manhasset, New York.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced it finished replacement work on the bridge, and it is now open. Throughout the summer, MTA says crews worked to demolish the original 1897 structure and replace it with a modern, climate resilient structure. The bridge measures 77 feet and three spans.
Beginning in January 2025, crews spent six months of work preparing the old structure for demolistion and replacement. In the summer, MTA says crews removed the center span and installed pre-cast concrete for the new structure. Originally planned to take place over the course of two weekends, the work was actually finished in a single weekend due to MTA’s design-build contracts. The roadway was widened and “features a greater clearance underneath.”
Crews installed catch basins and a drainage system for stormwater as well as rebuilt the roadway, retaining walls, and sidewalks. The new bridge has a projected lifespan of 75 years and is “more resistant” to severe weather as a result of the rebuild. The project was completed four months ahead of schedule and $7.3 million under budget at a total cost of $16.5 million. MTA selected Railroad Construction Company, Inc. (RCC) and GCCOM Construction Company, Inc. (GCCOM) after reviewing proposals during a procurement process. The joint venture proposed an approach that “reduced the number of required track outages.”
“Replacing this 128-year-old bridge is an important step toward keeping Long Island Rail Road service safe and reliable in the long term. We’re proud to have finished the job on budget and ahead of schedule,” said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “From the Port Washington Branch to our entire network of subways, buses, and commuter rails, we’re improving our system faster, better, and cheaper than ever before.”
“Working closely with our partners at MTA Construction and Development we were able to replace a bridge that’s over a century old with minimal disruption to LIRR service on one of our busiest lines,” said LIRR President Rob Free. “It’s another example of how we are committed to building and maintaining a more resilient system that benefits the communities we serve.”
