“They ought to keep it for clam wagons” a driver once said. That’s what some folks thought about the old Macombs Dam Bridge’s predecessor. This wasn’t just any bridge. This is the Macombs Dam Bridge a vital artery connecting Manhattan and the Bronx. Its history stretches back far beyond its current steel form.
The Macombs Dam Bridge stands where a dam once stood a dam built in 1814. Robert Macomb son of a merchant wanted to create a mill pond. He got permission but with a condition a lock for boats. That lock was tiny only 7 by 7 feet. This severely limited river traffic. The Harlem River’s navigability suffered.
People were furious. In 1839 a group led by Lewis G Morris took matters into their own hands. They breached the dam an act of civil disobedience. The courts surprisingly sided with them. The dam was deemed a public nuisance. It was demolished in 1858.
A wooden swing bridge called the Central Bridge replaced the dam. But it needed constant repairs. It was unreliable. One newspaper described it as crazy. This led to plans for a new bridge more durable and impressive.
Enter Alfred Pancoast Boller a brilliant engineer. He designed the current Macombs Dam Bridge and its 155th Street Viaduct. Construction started in 1892. The old bridge was temporarily moved. The new bridge opened on May 1 1895. It was a marvel of engineering.
The Macombs Dam Bridge is a swing bridge. Its over-water span is 408 or 415 feet long. It’s the third-oldest major bridge still working in New York City. It boasts four lanes and sidewalks. It’s been called a raffish tiara for its design.
Its Manhattan approach is via the 155th Street Viaduct a long steel structure. It even had observation decks and stairs. Only two stairs remain today. The Bronx approach features Warren truss spans and a camelback span over railroad tracks. The Macombs Dam Bridge connects neighborhoods. It carries thousands of vehicles daily. It has witnessed history. It continues to serve New York City.