Bridge 8, Erie Canal

Bridge 8
Coordinates42°51′01″N 73°53′16″W / 42.8504°N 73.8879°W / 42.8504; -73.8879
CarriesFour lanes of NY 146
CrossesMohawk River (Erie Canal)
LocaleRexford, New York
Other name(s)Rexford Bridge
OwnerNew York State Department of Transportation
Characteristics
DesignBeam
MaterialSteel
Total length770 ft (230 m)[1]
Width70 ft (21 m)[1]
Height22.9 ft (7.0 m)[1]
No. of spans4
Load limit32.2 tons (29.21 t)[1]
History
DesignerAECOM/Tioga Construction
Opened2017
ReplacesBridge 8
Location
Map

Bridge 8, known locally as the Rexford Bridge, is a four-lane bridge crossing the Mohawk River (Erie Canal) northeast of the city of Schenectady in New York, United States. It carries New York State Route 146 (NY 146) from Schenectady County to Rexford, a hamlet in the Saratoga County town of Clifton Park.

Near the bridge is the historic remains of the 1842 Erie Canal Aqueduct. The 1842 aqueduct replaced the original 1824 aqueduct at this site when the Erie Canal was enlarged during the years of 1835–1862. The aqueduct was demolished in 1918 upgrades to form the New York State Barge Canal.[2] Three of the 14 arches can still be seen today, one on the Saratoga side and two on the Schenectady side.

2017 bridge

The 2017 bridge is a 4 lane beam bridge constructed to replace the 1965 bridge due to advance age and increased traffic.[3][4] The new bridge was built though a design-build project with Tioga Construction and AECOM, and opened in 2017.[5] The project included widening NY 146 in Rexford, constructing a 2 lane roundabout south of the bridge, and constructing a new multi use trail.[6][7]

1965 bridge

The 1965 bridge is a two-lane truss bridge crossing the Mohawk River (Erie Canal) to the east of the current bridge. The bridge was designed by the New York State Department of Public Works and opened in 1965. It has a total length of 727 feet (222 m) and a main span of 266 feet (81 m).

  • View of the 1965 bridge facing east
    View of the 1965 bridge facing east
  • View of the 1965 bridge facing west
    View of the 1965 bridge facing west

References

  1. ^ a b c d "National Bridge Inventory - 000000004038360". National Bridge Inventory. 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  2. ^ Sadowski Jr., Frank E. "The Mohawk River Aqueducts". The Eire Canal. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "PIN 1085.42 Route 146 over the Mohawk River" (PDF). New York State Department of Transportation. January 16, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  4. ^ Grady, John E. (October 24, 2018). "Replacing the Rexford Bridge -- the site, the history, and the bridges" (PDF). New York State Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Schultz, Marc (November 29, 2017). "Rexford Bridge: Before-and-after look". Daily Gazette. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  6. ^ "Route 146 over the Mohawk River, Design – Build Project, Public Information Meeting" (PDF). New York State Department of Transportation. October 14, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  7. ^ "ROUTE 146 OVER THE MOHAWK RIVER, DESIGN-BUILD PROJECT, PIN 1085.42, Contract D900026, DB CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, PART 6 ,RFP PLANS" (PDF). New York State Department of Transportation. January 23, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
West Erie Canal Locks East
Bridge 10 Bridge 8, Erie Canal Lock 7 and Bridge 7B

42°51′01″N 73°53′17″W / 42.850414°N 73.887917°W / 42.850414; -73.887917