Feel the rhythm of the Passaic River. Avondale Bridge stands before you a testament to time and engineering.
Avondale Bridge also known as the Kingsland Avenue Bridge and De Jessa Memorial Bridge connects Nutley and Lyndhurst New Jersey. This isn’t just any bridge. It’s a swing bridge a marvel of early 20th-century design.
Built between 1903 and 1905 by the New Jersey Bridge Company Avondale Bridge boasts a hybrid design. It features a rim-bearing swing span a testament to the ingenuity of its creators. The bridge’s design is a blend of pinned and riveted Warren through trusses. This innovative approach showcases the evolution of movable bridge technology. The original structure was designed by James Owen for Essex County and H M Watson for Bergen County. The New Jersey Bridge Company and the F M Stillman Company were instrumental in its construction.
The Avondale Bridge isn’t just about steel and rivets. It’s about community and remembrance. In 1981 it was rededicated as the De Jessa Memorial Bridge. This honored Joseph Carmine De Jessa a Lyndhurst native and U S Marine who gave his life in the Vietnam War. The bridge underwent significant rehabilitation in 1984. New motors generators and controls were installed. Repairs were made to the steel structure piers abutments and fenders. The deck and stringers were replaced.
Today Avondale Bridge continues to serve its purpose. It carries thousands of vehicles daily connecting two towns. The bridge is considered functionally obsolete. It can no longer handle modern traffic demands. Plans are in place for its replacement. This replacement project is a collaboration between Bergen and Essex counties. They are working with the NJDOT to secure funding. The project’s scope could be significant like the Court Street Bridge replacement on the Hackensack River.
Avondale Bridge a bridge of steel and stories a symbol of connection and remembrance. Its legacy will endure.