Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is planning to replace three (3) bridges under this contract, including the Wreck Lead Bridge, Cherry Valley Road Bridge, and Webster Avenue Bridge.

The Wreck Lead Bridge is a single-track bascule bridge that was built in 1988. The bridge connects LIRR service from Island Park to the City of Long Beach on the Long Beach Branch. The Wreck Lead Bridge is planned to be rehabilitated as part of this project.

The Webster Avenue Bridge was built in 1897 in Manhasset and serves the single track Port Washington Branch. The purpose for the replacement of this bridge is to enhance safety and reduce maintenance.

The Cherry Valley Road Bridge was built in 1871 in the Village of Garden City and serves the Hempstead Branch. This bridge replacement project is necessary to raise the bridge structure to avoid truck strikes that cause delays on the Hempstead Branch. There were 10 bridge strikes to this bridge in 2015 and 10 in 2016. The Cherry Valley Road Bridge will be raised to accommodate a vertical clearance of 14 feet to allow trucks to pass safely beneath it.

Hayduk Engineering provided preliminary engineering services for the Webster Avenue Bridge and the Cherry Valley Road Bridge locations. Hayduk Engineering’s role on the project included performing a wet study of the bridges, preparation of erosion and sediment control plans, preparation of maintenance and protection of traffic plans including detours for the duration of construction, and the preparation of a detailed drainage evaluation study and design of preliminary drainage improvements at the Webster Avenue.

Construction is planned to commence in mid-2020.