South Grand Island Bridge
Encyclopedia
The South Grand Island Bridge carries Interstate 190
across the Niagara River
between Tonawanda, New York
and Grand Island, New York
. The toll plaza (total of 7 booths) is found on the Tonawanda side of the bridge; Only 2 booths (1 and 7) are EZ-Pass, the remainder are manned booths.
The twin Truss arch bridge
s (with a steel through-arch in the middle) crosses from Tonawanda to Grand Island and was opened in 1935 and 1962. It was acquired by New York State in 1950 and operated by the New York State Thruway
.
The South Grand Island Bridges have a 93 foot navigation clearance, which was designed to allow tall lake freighter
s and tanker ships pass beneath it.
The northbound south bridge is scheduled to be renovated by American Bridge Company
from 2008 to 2010. American Bridge Company will replace the deck (road), sidewalk, and barriers as part of a $48 million project.
While the twin bridges were built decades apart, they appear nearly identical. It is clear that builders in the 1960s took great care in matching the original 1930s architecture. However, if you look closely, there are slight differences. The 1935 bridge has a stone cutwaters on the piers, while the 1962 bridge has steel-faced cutwaters. Also, the renovations on the southbound (1962) bridge have resulted in a guard rail that looks much different from the one on the 1935 bridge.
Interstate 190 (New York)
Interstate 190 runs 28.34 miles from Interstate 90 near Buffalo, New York to Lewiston, New York via Niagara Falls. Parts of this highway were built on the former rights-of-way of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Erie Canal. It is referred to by locals as The One-Ninety...
across the Niagara River
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
between Tonawanda, New York
Tonawanda (town), New York
Tonawanda is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 78,155. The town is at the north border of the county and is the northern suburb of Buffalo...
and Grand Island, New York
Grand Island, New York
Grand Island is a town and an island in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the town population is 20,374. This represents an increase of 9.41% from the 2000 census figure . The current town name derives from the French name La Grande Île, as Grand Island is the largest island in...
. The toll plaza (total of 7 booths) is found on the Tonawanda side of the bridge; Only 2 booths (1 and 7) are EZ-Pass, the remainder are manned booths.
The twin Truss arch bridge
Truss arch bridge
A truss arch bridge combines the elements of the truss bridge and the arch bridge. The actual resolution of forces will depend upon the design. If no horizontal thrusting forces are generated this becomes an arch-shaped truss, essentially a bent beam — see moon bridge for an example...
s (with a steel through-arch in the middle) crosses from Tonawanda to Grand Island and was opened in 1935 and 1962. It was acquired by New York State in 1950 and operated by the New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
.
The South Grand Island Bridges have a 93 foot navigation clearance, which was designed to allow tall lake freighter
Lake freighter
Lake freighters, or Lakers, are bulk carrier vessels that ply the Great Lakes. The best known was the , the most recent and largest major vessel to be wrecked on the Lakes. These vessels are traditionally called boats, although classified as ships. In the mid-20th century, 300 lakers worked the...
s and tanker ships pass beneath it.
The northbound south bridge is scheduled to be renovated by American Bridge Company
American Bridge Company
The American Bridge Company is a privately held civil engineering firm specializing in the construction and renovation of bridges and other large civil engineering projects, founded in 1900, and headquartered in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh.-Products and industry positioning:The...
from 2008 to 2010. American Bridge Company will replace the deck (road), sidewalk, and barriers as part of a $48 million project.
While the twin bridges were built decades apart, they appear nearly identical. It is clear that builders in the 1960s took great care in matching the original 1930s architecture. However, if you look closely, there are slight differences. The 1935 bridge has a stone cutwaters on the piers, while the 1962 bridge has steel-faced cutwaters. Also, the renovations on the southbound (1962) bridge have resulted in a guard rail that looks much different from the one on the 1935 bridge.
See also
- List of crossings of the Niagara River
- North Grand Island BridgeNorth Grand Island BridgeThe North Grand Island Bridge carries Interstate 190 across the Niagara River between Grand Island, New York and Niagara Falls, New York. The toll plaza are found on the Grand Island, New York side of the bridge....
- Historic Bridges - South Grand Island Bridge