Suspended high above the Gowanus Canal, have you ever considered the story beneath your feet as you traverse the Ninth Street Bridge? This isn’t just any bridge. It is a vital piece of New York City’s infrastructure. It also has a fascinating history intertwined with the subway system.
The Ninth Street Bridge is actually two bridges in one. The upper level supports the Culver Viaduct. It houses the IND Smith/9th Street Station. Opened in 1933, this station soars 91 feet above the canal. It stands as the highest elevated station in the entire NYC subway system.
Below the subway station is the vertical lift bridge for 9th Street itself. This lower bridge opened in 2000. It replaced a deteriorated bascule bridge from 1903. The original bridge was built alongside the Union and Third Street bridges.
The lift span of the Ninth Street Bridge stretches 82 feet. It provides a 60-foot wide channel. This allows boats to pass under three lanes of traffic and two sidewalks. When raised, the lift span offers a vertical clearance of 60 feet above the water.
Here’s where the engineering gets interesting. The Ninth Street Bridge sits under another bridge. This unusual situation made the standard counterweight system impossible. To solve this, engineers designed a system with four counterweights. One sits on each pillar. This provides the maximum clearance for both bridges. Hadesty and Hanover, LLP Consulting Engineers designed this ingenious solution.
Over the years, the concrete of the viaduct deteriorated. To prevent chunks of concrete from falling, a fabric cladding was wrapped around the supporting structure.
The Smith–Ninth Streets station is served by the F and G trains. In 2023, the station saw 968,460 riders. The station’s high elevation was necessary because of navigation regulations. Tall-masted ships needed to pass on the Gowanus Canal. The elevated structure rises over the Ninth Street Bridge.
In 2007, the MTA announced a massive renovation project. The Culver Viaduct needed significant repairs. The station was encased in mesh wrapping. This was to protect people from falling concrete. The station closed for full reconstruction between June 2011 and April 2013.
The renovated station features artwork. The exterior is styled to resemble a boat hull. The interior houses a large blue mosaic of a nautical map.
Interestingly, the original plan was to tunnel under the Gowanus Canal. However, the city chose a viaduct to save money. This decision shaped the unique structure we see today.
So, as you cross the Ninth Street Bridge, remember its double life. Subway riders travel above. Cars, bikes, and pedestrians move below. It is an engineering marvel. It is also a testament to New York City’s ever-evolving infrastructure.