High Bridge’s $61M restoration gets underway

Historic structure expected to welcome pedestrians, cyclists next year

High Bridge
High Bridge

The city today broke ground on the $61 million restoration of the High Bridge, which would open the bridge up to pedestrians and cyclists. The bridge, which spans the Harlem River, is expected to be opened in 2014. High Bridge is the oldest remaining bridge in New York City.

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The bridge connects the neighborhoods of Highbridge in the Bronx and Washington Heights in Manhattan. First opened in 1848 as part of the Old Croton Aqueduct, the bridge was closed for public use around 1970. Along with seven other regional parks, it is being transformed under PlaNYC, a collaboration between the Departments of Parks, Environmental Protection, Design and Construction and the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

“In 2007, when we launched PlaNYC, our long-term sustainability plan, we committed to restoring and re-opening the High Bridge – one of our city’s great treasures,” said Mayor Bloomberg, who was on hand for the groundbreaking. In March, as part of PlaNYC, the city called for proposals to create solar and wind power facilities at Fresh Kills on Staten Island, as The Real Deal previously reported. – Hiten Samtani

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