Bridge Street over Metro-North Railroad Bridge Replacement

The three-span through-girder bridge carrying Bridge Street across the Metro-North Railroad (MNR) Hudson Line and the New Hamburg Station parking lot had been built in the 1930s and was approaching the end of its service life. The structure had been posted for reduced capacity, and parking spaces beneath it had been closed due to the risk of spalling concrete. The bridge—which carried substantial commuter traffic to and from the station and formed part of a popular pedestrian route to the Hudson River—also had substandard clearance over the railroad. Lochner led the design phase of a locally administered federal aid bridge replacement project.

During the preliminary design phase, Lochner performed an in-depth inspection of the existing bridge to assess its structural condition, conducted a load rating analysis, assessed alternate replacement structures and span configurations, and assisted MNR with public involvement events. Lochner was also responsible for environmental coordination and documentation.

During final design, Lochner produced plans, specifications, and estimates for a 183-foot-long, two-span multigirder bridge with a concrete deck. The new bridge was designed on the existing horizontal alignment, and the vertical alignment was modified to improve clearance over the railway. The new bridge provided safety improvements through wider travel lanes and a dedicated pedestrian walkway with ornamental fencing. Decorative mosaic stone inserts were added to the piers.

The existing bridge also carried a water main—the sole source of water to the hamlet of New Hamburg. This water main was replaced with a new 18-inch pipe as part of the bridge replacement, and Lochner coordinated with the local water department to develop a plan that ensured that water service was continuously provided to New Hamburg during construction.