Broadway Bridge (Manhattan)


The Broadway Bridge is a lift bridge across the Harlem River Ship Canal in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It connects the neighborhoods of Inwood on Manhattan island and Marble Hill on the mainland. The bridge is named because it carries Broadway, which is also designated as US 9 at this location. The bridge carries the New York City Subway's IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line above the road.

History

Before the Harlem River was rerouted, Marble Hill was part of Manhattan island. The bridge in the area was named Kings Bridge, crossing the river on the border between Marble Hill and the Bronx. The Boston Post Road and Albany Post Road crossed this bridge.
The Harlem River Ship Canal was completed in 1895 and the old Kings Bridge was demolished. A total of three bridges spanned the canal at this location.

First span

The first Broadway Bridge, opened on January 1, 1895, spanned the canal. The 1895 bridge, a steam-powered swinging bridge, accommodated only highway and pedestrian traffic.
When a new span was built in 1905, the original Broadway Bridge was relocated, becoming the University Heights Bridge between Inwood and University Heights, Bronx. In June 1906, the old bridge was floated down the river and placed on a newly constructed center pier. After all the approaches and other construction were completed, the new University Heights Bridge opened to traffic on January 8, 1908.

Second span

In 1905, a bridge was constructed that could accommodate for the extension of the IRT subway line into the Bronx. The 1905 Broadway Bridge was also a swinging bridge, but a second deck was added to allow for subway traffic on the upper deck, and pedestrian and highway traffic on the lower deck.
The last subway train crossed the previous Broadway Bridge on December 23, 1960. Over the next two days, the old bridge was removed and the already assembled new bridge floated and hoisted into position, opening to subway traffic on December 26, 1960.

Current span

The present Broadway Bridge has a navigable channel wide providing of vertical clearance when the bridge is in the open position. In the down position, the bridge provides of vertical clearance.

Traffic

In 2010, the New York City Department of Transportation, which operates and maintains the bridge, reported an average daily traffic volume in both directions of 37,292. The peak ADT over the Broadway Bridge was 42,555 vehicles in 1990.

Public transportation

The Broadway Bridge carries the New York City Subway's. Immediately to the north of the bridge along this line is the Marble Hill–225th Street station.
The bridge also carries the local bus routes operated by MTA New York City Transit, and the express bus route operated by the MTA Bus Company.