Kosciuszko Bridge Replacement, Phase 2
New York, NY, United States

The second phase of the Kosciuszko Bridge replacement project on the east end of Long Island in New York City is now drawing to a close, as crews attach the cables that will support the deck. The new Kosciuszko Bridge is a key element of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE), which is an integral part of I-278 and one of the few north-south routes in the area. Plans to upgrade this 1.1-mile portion of the BQE have been under serious consideration since 2000. Originally constructed in the 1930s, the old Kosciuszko Bridge was the only crossing of Newtown Creek that was not a drawbridge. In the 75 years since its opening, traffic has grown exponentially while the structure itself has both aged and become functionally obsolete.

The old bridge currently is being replaced by dual cable-stayed bridges in a phased project that also involves a great deal of work on the surface roads and utilities under the predominantly elevated roadway. Phase one of the replacement project, which ran from 2014 to 2017, saw the construction of a new Brooklyn- bound roadway and bridge alongside the existing roadway. Once completed, all traffic was shifted to the new structure, with three lanes of traffic in each direction, enabling the removal of the old bridge. When the second new bridge is completed, it will carry four lanes of westbound traffic plus a pedestrian/ bicycle path. The bridge that was built in phase one will then revert to carrying five lanes of eastbound traffic.

Customer
Granite Construction Company