The Borden Avenue Bridge over Dutch Kills is a historic – and rare – retractile-type movable bridge between the Queens Midtown Tunnel and the Long Island Expressway. About 100 years after it first opened, the bridge stopped closing properly due to rotations of the west abutment and southwest wing wall that caused a rapidly growing crack along the southwest wing wall. The movement of the walls had accelerated so much, the bridge was closed to traffic for safety reasons.
STV prepared a fast-track, emergency final design for the reconstruction of the west abutment and wing walls of the bridge. Unforeseen site conditions dictated scope changes and site-specific design solutions. The project included complete reconstruction of the west approach roadway and sidewalks, deck replacement and repairs to steel members of the movable span. STV was also responsible for obtaining construction permits and provided coordination with appropriate regulatory agencies.
