The Willis Avenue Bridge over the Harlam River, Manhattan and The Bronx, New York

Kiewit Construction Company awarded PDM Bridge the contract to fabricate the new Willis Avenue Bridge in New York. PDM will fabricate the new Swing Span; provide the operating machinery as well as all the approach fabrication.

The original Willis Avenue Bridge, constructed in 1901, is used by over 70,000 vehicles a day and has started to show signs of age, weather and traffic. NYCDOT bid the replacement project in 2007 with work to start the end of that year and completion scheduled for December 2012.

The swing span was CNC (computer numerically controlled) drilled. At the center pivot location, PDM will fabricate girders that are 24 foot deep. The main pivot bearing is being purchased from a Swedish company because no domestic suppliers were available.

Interesting Facts:

• PDM used over 8 ½ thousand tons of steel for this project.
• There were 32 tub girders, 200 plate girders and 11 welded pier caps for used in the approaches.
• 179 box members in the swing span.
• This project required full shop assembly.
• PDM blast cleaned and shop painted all the steel.

Interesting Fact: In 2005 NYCDOT actually put the original bridge up for sale for just $1 and offered free delivery within 15 miles of its present location. The buyer would have to maintain the bridge and could not sell it for scrap. There were no takers. The existing bridge will be demolished upon completion of the new bridge; however, a symbolic portion will be retained as a monument in the Harlem River Park.