Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Kingston–Rhinecliff Bridge is a continuous under-deck truss
bridge that carries NY 199
across the Hudson River
in New York State north of the City of Kingston
and the hamlet of Rhinecliff. It was opened to traffic on February 2, 1957 as a two-lane (one in each direction) bridge, although it was not actually complete. Formal opening was May 11, 1957. The original cost was $17.5 million.
The bridge, owned by the New York State Bridge Authority
(NYSBA), carries two lanes of traffic and approximately 17,000 vehicles per day. It was designed by David B. Steinman
and the builders were Harris Structural Steel and Merritt-Chapman & Scott Corporation
, and is the second northernmost, and second newest, of the 5 bridges that NYSBA owns and operates. The bridge has two main spans, since there is an east and west channel
in the Hudson River at this point.
, and the design was initially a Suspension bridge
almost identical in appearance to the Mid-Hudson Bridge
. When the site was relocated about 3 miles (4.8 km) northward, there was no stable bedrock for anchorages, so the design was changed to a continuous under-deck truss. Construction commenced in 1954. When the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge
was proposed, provisions were inserted in the enabling legislation that construction on that bridge could not commence until the Kingston-Rhinecliff was completed.
Like all NYSBA bridges currently, the Kingston-Rhinecliff is a toll bridge
, with the toll set at $1.00 US for eastbound automobiles and other 2 axle vehicles, as of 2008. Westbound traffic is not tolled.
In 2000 the state ceremonially renamed the bridge after George Clinton
, New York's first Governor
, fourth Vice President of the United States
and a resident of the Hudson Valley
.
Continuous truss bridge
A continuous truss bridge is a truss bridge which extends without hinges or joints across three or more supports. A continuous truss bridge may use less material than a series of simple trusses because a continuous truss distributes live loads across all the spans; in a series of simple trusses,...
bridge that carries NY 199
New York State Route 199
New York State Route 199 is a state highway located in the Hudson Valley of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with U.S. Route 9W and US 209 north of Kingston to an intersection with US 44 and NY 22 southwest of Millerton...
across the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
in New York State north of the City of Kingston
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
and the hamlet of Rhinecliff. It was opened to traffic on February 2, 1957 as a two-lane (one in each direction) bridge, although it was not actually complete. Formal opening was May 11, 1957. The original cost was $17.5 million.
The bridge, owned by the New York State Bridge Authority
New York State Bridge Authority
The New York State Bridge Authority is a public benefit corporation in New York State, United States. The NYSBA was born out of the necessity for a bridge over the Hudson River to link the city of Hudson and the village of Catskill.-History:...
(NYSBA), carries two lanes of traffic and approximately 17,000 vehicles per day. It was designed by David B. Steinman
David B. Steinman
David Bernard Steinman was an American structural engineer. He was the designer of the Mackinac Bridge and many other notable bridges, and a published author. He grew up in New York City's lower Manhattan, and lived with the ambition of making his mark on the Brooklyn Bridge that he lived under...
and the builders were Harris Structural Steel and Merritt-Chapman & Scott Corporation
Merritt-Chapman & Scott
Merritt-Chapman & Scott, nicknamed "The Black Horse of the Sea", was a noted marine salvage and construction firm of the United States, with worldwide operations. The chief predecessor company was founded in the 1860s by Israel Merritt, but a large number of other firms were merged in over the...
, and is the second northernmost, and second newest, of the 5 bridges that NYSBA owns and operates. The bridge has two main spans, since there is an east and west channel
Channel (geography)
In physical geography, a channel is the physical confine of a river, slough or ocean strait consisting of a bed and banks.A channel is also the natural or human-made deeper course through a reef, sand bar, bay, or any shallow body of water...
in the Hudson River at this point.
Development
Planning for a bridge in this general area to replace the ferry service, which was viewed as sporadic and unreliable, (there were no Hudson bridges for 1/2 hour or more drive time in either direction) began in the early 1940s. The site for the bridge, as originally proposed was between Kingston Point and downtown RhinebeckRhinebeck
Rhinebeck may refer to:* Rhinebeck , New York* Rhinebeck , New York* Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome* Rhinebeck and Connecticut Railroad* New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, held in Rhinebeck, New York...
, and the design was initially a Suspension bridge
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
almost identical in appearance to the Mid-Hudson Bridge
Mid-Hudson Bridge
The Mid-Hudson Bridge is a toll suspension bridge which carries US 44 and NY 55 across the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie and Highland in the state of New York. Governor and local resident Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor attended the opening ceremony on August 25, 1930. The bridge...
. When the site was relocated about 3 miles (4.8 km) northward, there was no stable bedrock for anchorages, so the design was changed to a continuous under-deck truss. Construction commenced in 1954. When the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge
Newburgh-Beacon Bridge
The Newburgh–Beacon Bridge, is a cantilever toll bridge that spans the Hudson River in New York State carrying NY 52 and Interstate 84 between Newburgh and Beacon...
was proposed, provisions were inserted in the enabling legislation that construction on that bridge could not commence until the Kingston-Rhinecliff was completed.
Like all NYSBA bridges currently, the Kingston-Rhinecliff is a toll bridge
Toll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...
, with the toll set at $1.00 US for eastbound automobiles and other 2 axle vehicles, as of 2008. Westbound traffic is not tolled.
In 2000 the state ceremonially renamed the bridge after George Clinton
George Clinton (vice president)
George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...
, New York's first Governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
, fourth Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
and a resident of the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
.
External links
- NYCroads: Historic overview
- Toll schedule - NYSBA
- Chas H. Sells rehabilitation project information