Our Bridges Are the Worst

Under the Kosciusko Bridge

While our city's bridges may be fantastic for falcons, they're unfortunately not so great when it comes to us humans. A new list, provided by the General Contractors Association, points out the worst bridges and elevated roadways right here in New York City. Drum roll please!

1. Kosciusko Bridge
2. Gowanus Expressway
3. Bronx River Parkway over Amtrak
4. Cross Bronx Expressway Viaduct over Amtrak and the Sheridan Expressway
5. Bronx Terminal Viaduct Carrying the Major Deegan by Yankee Stadium
6. Major Deegan Expressway over Sedgewick Avenue & Metro-North Railroad
7. Bruckner Expressway Service Road Northbound
8. Bruckner Boulevard Viaduct
9. 150th Street Over Belt Parkway
10. Major Deegan Ramp to 153rd Street/Cromwell Avenue (Southbound)

According to the president of City College of NY, “You can only run vehicles over these bridges and freeways over a period of time before the wear and tear builds up.” Here's a look at the worst bridge collapses in the past 100 years, to aid with your nightmares tonight.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on September 30, 2009 6:34 PM

Comments [rss]

silver

You've got to get permits from 100s of councils, committees, and commissions, and hire $10000 consultants to write impact reports, then spend 10 years fighting off the lawsuits by Sierra Club/Green Peace/NRDC/citizens (sovereign immunity override).

Heres a list of all the federal acts that can kill a project.

ENVIRONMENTAL

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Archeological and Historic Preservation Act

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Clean Air Act

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Endangered Species Act

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Executive Order 11593- Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment

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Executive Order 11988- Floodplain Management

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Executive Order 11990- Protection of Wetlands

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Farmland Protection Policy Act

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Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act

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National Historic Preservation Act

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Safe Drinking Water Act

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Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

ECONOMIC

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Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act

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Section 306 of the Clean Air Act and Section 508 of the Clean Water Act, including Executive Order 11738-Administration of the Clean Air Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with Respect to Federal Contracts, Grants, or Loans

SOCIAL

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Age Discrimination Act

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Civil Rights Act of 1964

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Executive Order 11246- Equal Employment Opportunity

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Executive Orders 11625 and 12138- Women's and Minority Business Enterprises

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Section 13 of PL 92-500; Prohibition against sex discrimination under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act

MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORITY

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Uniform Relocation and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act

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Executive Order 12549- Debarment and Suspension

solidago

What I don't understand is why it takes so damn long to fix these things. Who's responsible for the foot dragging? Unions? Contractors? The city? The Gowanus Expressway has been under construction for years. Robert Moses would have had that thing done in a week. Why can't they just get the damn things done!?

cmdrogogov

The continued lack of interest of the city or its inhabitants to invest in building and maintaining infrastructure is pathetic.

It's like you people WANT this place to fall apart at the seams :-/

LICer

Any chance we can blame bridge wear on bird strikes?

silver

Pigeon poop is corrosive.

Boogie Down

I find it frightening that there are at least ten bridges worse than the Willis Avenue. Yikes!

Trilby16

Boo-yah! Our bridges are The Worst! Eat it, other cities' bridges!

inoyourider

Unfortunately its also a heavily trafficked area.

NikG

Is it a coincidence that 6 of the 10 bridges are in the poorest urban area in the country? I'm talking about the South Bronx btw.

I think not. Hopefully they'll invest more now that the area is slllooowly coming up.

Any thoughts?

Steven

All the money went into building the new Yankee Stadium. The bridges will be fixed when one of them collapses and tons of people are dead.

silver

Don't worry, Albany will raise the gasoline tax to save minority children in school buses that could be going over bridges that could collapse.