A view of the William Cullen Bryant Bridge from the Roslyn Grist Mill on November 11, 2020.

Adapted from Wikipedia

The William Cullen Bryant Bridge, historically known as the Roslyn Viaduct, carries Northern Boulevard (NY 25A) over Hempstead Harbor, and serves as a bypass of the Village of Roslyn on Long Island, New York.^[2] The original bridge opened in 1949, and was replaced between 2005 and 2012.^[5][4]

History

Original bridge (1949-2012)

The original bridge was completed in 1949, and opened on October 21 of that year by Governor Thomas E. Dewey.^[6][2] The four-lane bridge was built using a pin-hanger design.^[2] The construction and subsequent opening of the bridge eliminated the traffic bottleneck on Main Street and Old Northern Boulevard in the heart of Roslyn that had resulted from the increasing number of automobiles on the roads.^[2]

The original span of the William Cullen Bryant Bridge crossing Hempstead Harbor, looking northeast. Note the new bridge being built behind it.

By the 1990s, the bridge was beginning to show its age. Advancements in bridge engineering and safety rendered the structure obsolete; New York stopped building bridges using the pin-hanger design in 1968.^[2] Additionally, there were concerns regarding the bridge's structural integrity, especially after the 1983 Mianus River Bridge Disaster, in which a similarly-designed bridge carrying Interstate 95 in Connecticut collapsed.^[2] After careful consideration, officials ultimately decided to replace the bridge, with initial development for the project first taking place between 1992 and 1993.^[4]

Current bridge (2012-present)

In 2005, construction commenced on a replacement bridge, as the original one was in a state of disrepair, was structurally-obsolete, lacked shoulders, and exceeded its intended use life.^[2][4] Given the lack of efficient detour routes, construction was carried out in phases; one side would remain open whilst the other was demolished and rebuilt. Three lanes would be in use at any given time, and their directions would be reversible; in the mornings, there would be 2 westbound lanes and 1 eastbound lane, and the afternoons/evenings would see 2 eastbound lanes and 1 westbound lane.^[5][7] Construction was originally intended to be completed by 2007 - but numerous factors led to multiple delays, and the replacement bridge was finally completed in 2012.^[4] The new bridge, features many enhancements including a shoulder lane, an improved walkway, and better drainage.^[2] The new bridge is a total of 13 feet wider than its predecessor.^[2]

The new bridge was built using precast concrete segments, and was the first bridge in the area to be built using this design method.^[5][7]

Dedication and re-naming, 2012

In 2012, the bridge was officially dedicated to and renamed after the late poet, journalist, and Roslyn resident, William Cullen Bryant, by then-NY State Senator Jack Martins, through a bill in the New York State Senate.^[1] Bryant, who had purchased a home in Roslyn in 1843, was one of the most famous and influential residents in Roslyn's history.^[1]

References

1. "Bill Introduced By Senator Martins to Rename Roslyn Viaduct Passes Senate". NY State Senate. 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
2. Beller, Peter C. (2005-11-13). "Roslyn Is Getting A New Viaduct". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
3. "Roslyn Viaduct" (PDF). Aspirebridge.com.
4. Pm, 2011 10:18. "Roslyn viaduct construction nearly done". Newsday. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
5. "Roslyn Viaduct" (PDF). Aspirebridge.com.
6. Russell, Ellen; Russell, Sargent (2009). Roslyn. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-7385-6505-7. LCCN 2008942609.
7. November 14, Emi Endo Staff Writer; Pm, 1991 3:22. "From the archives: Roslyn viaduct's long haul". Newsday. Retrieved 2020-08-09.

1927 aerial view of the Village of Roslyn before the bridge was built.

A December 6, 1939 plan to build a bridge across Hempstead Harbor. Courtesy of Catherine Pickering.

Construction of the bridge (1948-1949). Courtesy of Ian Zwerdling.

The completed bridge in 1949 looking northwest. Courtesy of the Cradle of Aviation.

Various views of the bridge (1950-1985).