Macombs Dam Bridge

Macombs Dam Bridge
View of the over-water span from the south; the Bronx approach viaduct can be seen at right
Coordinates40°49′41″N 73°56′02″W / 40.82806°N 73.93389°W / 40.82806; -73.93389
Carries4 lanes of roadway
CrossesHarlem River
LocaleManhattan and the Bronx,
New York City
Named forMacombs Dam
OwnerCity of New York
Maintained byNYCDOT[1]
Heritage statusNew York City designated landmark
Preceded byHigh Bridge
Followed by145th Street Bridge
Characteristics
Designswing[1] and camelback bridge
Total length2,540 ft (770 m)[1]
Longest span408 ft (124 m)[1]
Clearance below25 ft (7.6 m)
No. of lanes4
History
Construction cost$25 million (viaduct, in 2023 values)
$48 million (over-water span, in 2023 values)
$181 million (rehabilitation)[1]
OpenedMay 1, 1895 (1895-05-01)[1]
Statistics
Daily traffic38,183 (2016)[2]
DesignatedJanuary 14, 1992
Reference no.1629
Designated entity155th Street Viaduct and over-river span
Location
Map

The Macombs Dam Bridge (/məˈkmz/ mə-KOOMZ; also Macomb's Dam Bridge) is a swing bridge across the Harlem River in New York City, connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. The bridge is operated and maintained by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT).

The Macombs Dam Bridge connects the intersection of 155th Street and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue), located in Manhattan, with the intersection of Jerome Avenue and 161st Street, located near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The 155th Street Viaduct, one of the bridge's approaches in Manhattan, carries traffic on 155th Street from Seventh Avenue to the intersection with Edgecombe Avenue and St. Nicholas Place. The bridge is 2,540 feet (770 m) long in total, with four vehicular lanes and two sidewalks.

The first bridge at the site was constructed in 1814 as a true dam called Macombs Dam. Because of complaints about the dam's impact on the Harlem River's navigability, the dam was demolished in 1858 and replaced three years later with a wooden swing bridge called the Central Bridge, which required frequent maintenance. The current steel span was built between 1892 and 1895, while the 155th Street Viaduct was built from 1890 to 1893; both were designed by Alfred Pancoast Boller. The Macombs Dam Bridge is the third-oldest major bridge still operating in New York City, and along with the 155th Street Viaduct, was designated a New York City Landmark in 1992.

  1. ^ a b c d e f Michael R. Bloomberg, City of New York (January 23, 2004). "New York City's Harlem River Bridges: The Reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  2. ^ "New York City Bridge Traffic Volumes" (PDF). New York City Department of Transportation. 2016. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.