Repair To Carroll Street Bridge Mechanisms Damaged During Sandy To Begin

Good news! It looks as though NYC Department Of Transportation is moving ahead with the much needed repair to the Carroll Street Bridge, which was damaged by floodwater.

Craig Hammerman, Community Board 6's district manager sent out the email below regarding a temporary closing of the bridge this morning to test a temporary operating system to open and close the bridge.

Craig writes:
"The Carroll Street Bridge’s mechanical systems were damaged during Superstorm Sandy. The NYCDOT Division of Bridges is beginning the project to repair the damaged mechanisms of the bridge over this Spring and Summer.
A Temporary Operating System has been installed and the NYCDOT will be testing this system tomorrow, Wednesday April 1, 2015 after 10:00am.

The test should take no longer than 15 minutes and has been scheduled during non-rush hours; disruption to the traffic on Carroll Street will be very temporary."

The retractable bridge, which swings out horizontally to open for barge traffic, was built in 1889 and landmarked in 1987.  It is the oldest of the four remaining retractable bridges left in this country. Below is a photo of the bridge from 1912.

(from the Brooklyn Collection, Brooklyn Public Library)

Incidentally, i just received the photo below from friend and reader Elizabeth Kenney of the Third Street Bridge, which was open today. She writes: "It is the 3rd Street Bridge, taken from 3rd Avenue side just now at 2 Pm today. It is up for the first time since Sandy."

Obviously, DoT is working on that bridge as well.

(photo credit: Elizabeth Kenney)

Elizabeth also sent along a beautiful old photo of the bridge that is included in a photo exhibit at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's shop in Grand Central. Thanks for sharing it, Elizabeth.