Wittpenn Bridge
| Wittpenn Bridge | |
|---|---|
|
Wittpenn Bridge, looking east in a 2004 photo | |
| Coordinates | 40°44′26″N 74°04′53″W / 40.740625°N 74.081336°WCoordinates: 40°44′26″N 74°04′53″W / 40.740625°N 74.081336°W |
| Carries |
4 Lanes of  Route 7 |
| Crosses | Hackensack River |
| Locale | Jersey City and Kearny, New Jersey |
| Official name | Wittpenn Bridge |
| Other name(s) | Route 7 Bridge |
| Maintained by | New Jersey Department of Transportation |
| ID number | 0909150[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Lift bridge |
| Total length | 2,169 feet (661 m) |
| Width | 40 feet (12 m) |
| Longest span | 83 feet (25 m) |
| Clearance below |
35 feet (11 m) (lowered) 100 feet (30 m) (raised) |
| History | |
| Opened | November 5, 1930 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 50,000 |
  Wittpenn Bridge | |
The Wittpenn Bridge is a vertical lift bridge that carries New Jersey Route 7 over the Hackensack River connecting Kearny and Jersey City, New Jersey. It is named after H. Otto Wittpenn, a former mayor of Jersey City. The bridge comprises four 10-foot (3.0 m)-wide lanes, extending 2,169 feet (661 m) and standing 35 feet (11 m) above mean high water with an 209-foot (64 m) main lift span. Bridge construction commenced 1927, and was opened to vehicular traffic November 5, 1930. The bridge has an annual average daily traffic (AADT) of nearly 50,000 vehicles, including about 2,000 trucks.[2]
When raised, the bridge provides 100 feet (30 m) of clearance for ships. Raising the lift span takes 15 minutes. In 2005, the bridge was raised to accommodate 80 boats passing underneath.[2]
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is replacing the Wittpenn Bridge and all its approach ramps (including connections to U.S. Route 1/9), a project estimated to cost $600 million, funded by federal dollars. The first phase of construction began in July 2011 and the overall project is expected to take six years to complete. The new bridge will be situated just north of the existing bridge.[3]
The reconstruction of the bridge is being partially funded by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and will be fully operational in 2021.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ "Historic Bridge Survey (1991–1994)" (PDF). NJDOT. 2001. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
- 1 2 Picture this: Drawbridge Operator, The Record (Bergen County), April 11, 2005
- ↑ Conti Group (2011). "Conti to Kick off Wittpenn Bridge Repairs" 2011-07-18.
- ↑ "Another new bridge quietly rises in shadow of the Pulaski Skyway". NJ.com.
External links
- Wittpenn Bridge – Historic Overview (nycroads.com)
- Route 7 Wittpenn Bridge: Kearny and Jersey City, Hudson County – Preliminary Design Development (NJDOT)
- Wittpenn Bridge at Structurae
- Wittpenn Bridge – Proposed Alignment (NJDOT)
| Crossings of the Hackensack River | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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