MTA bridge in Mount Vernon to get makeover
Metro-North Railroad’s Park Avenue Bridge in Mount Vernon, built in 1893, is being replaced thanks to a $10 million award in federal stimulus money, Gov. David Paterson announced this afternoon. The project will take 18 months.
The two-span bridge, which goes over the four New Haven line tracks and an adjacent parking lot, cannot bear the weight of emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks and larger commercial vehicles. Replacing the bridge means those kinds of vehicles won’t have to find alternate routes, and traffic flow and emergency-response times could be reduced as a result, state officials said.
The $10 million will be used to create a new pier and a three-span superstructure that will carry a new water main and conduits for telephone and electricity. The existing concrete abutments and one pier will remain and undergo rehabilitation. The top portions of the abutments and pier will be modified to accommodate the new superstructure. That will increase the 17.5-foot vertical clearance over the railroad to 19.5 feet. The project also includes minor road repaving, guide-rail improvements and utility work.
The state Department of Transportation is covering 100 percent of the cost by using federal stimulus funds.
“By replacing the Park Avenue Bridge, the issues of safety and traffic flow will be addressed in a much-needed manner,” Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson, D-Mount Vernon, said in a statement.
“Besides enhancing emergency response times, this essential work is an economic triple header; it replaces our ailing infrastructure, it puts people back to work, and it continues the redevelopment of Mount Vernon’s downtown,” said U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat.
Last week, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority approved a $1 million consultant contract to WSP Sells of Briarcliff Manor for construction supervision and inspection services. A construction contract will be awarded soon.
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Eliot Engel VOTED FOR:
Iraq War and subsequent funding to this day,
Patriot Act,
bailouts & stimuli (plural),
Commodity Futures Modernization Act (led to finanical crisis),
Food “Safety” Enhancement Act, which will shut down local farmers,
cap and trade (electricity tax);
he SUPPORTS the SECRECY of the Federal Reserve by refusing to support a proper audit (HR 1207).
Call him up and set him straight!
Come 2010, VOTE HIM OUT!!!
Engel correctly says that health care is too expensive, but does not say why. Why is 80% of drug costs because of government overhead. Why do government regulations stifle competition? Why are the industries where the government subsidizes and inflates the currency the most expensive (healthcare, education, housing…). Why are relatively unregulated services, like laser eye and plastic surgery, becoming cheaper? Why is the unregulated tech industry producing more and more affordable computers and cell phones?
He treats us like pigs, throwing a little slop to pacify us while we stupidly re-elect him…shame on us!