Here, spanning the Newtown Creek, we find the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge. Did you know this drawbridge links Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and Blissville, Queens? It is not just a crossing. It is a piece of New York City history.
The Greenpoint Avenue Bridge is also known as the J. J. Byrne Memorial Bridge. This name honors James J. Byrne. He served as Brooklyn Borough President. Byrne held the position from 1926 until his death in 1930. Before that, he was Brooklyn Commissioner of Public Works.
Believe it or not, this is the sixth bridge at this very spot. The first was built in the 1850s by Neziah Bliss. It was called the Blissville Bridge. Three more bridges followed before a new one arrived in 1900.
However, the 1900 bridge was replaced in 1929. After mechanical issues arose, the current Greenpoint Avenue Bridge was built in 1987. Hardesty and Hanover designed it. The bridge even won an American Institute of Steel Construction Award in 1991.
In 2009, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge would get $6 million in federal funds. These funds helped to rehabilitate the structure.
A fun fact. In 2011, New York City proposed extending the Greenpoint Avenue bike lane. This would stretch from Brooklyn across the bridge into Queens. The project finished in 2015.
This bascule bridge has a rich history. It has evolved over time to meet the needs of the city. The Greenpoint Avenue Bridge plays a vital role in connecting Brooklyn and Queens.
The Greenpoint Avenue Bridge stands about 1.3 miles from the mouth of Newtown Creek. Its leaves measure 21.3 meters wide. It offers a channel with a horizontal clearance of 45.4 meters. When closed, it has a vertical clearance of 7.9 meters at MHW and 9.4 meters at MLW.
The Greenpoint Avenue Bridge features a four-lane roadway with sidewalks on each side. The roadway is 8.6 meters wide. The sidewalks are 4.0 meters and 3.7 meters wide on the north and south sides, respectively.
Think about all the traffic it has seen. In 2016, the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge carried 31,622 vehicles daily.
So, as we stand here, remember the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge. It is more than steel and concrete. It is a testament to New York City’s continuous growth and enduring spirit. It connects not just places, but also the past and the present.