Bridge 8, Erie Canal Explained

Bridge Name:Bridge 8
Other Name:Rexford Bridge
Carries:Four lanes of
Crosses:Mohawk River (Erie Canal)
Locale:Rexford, New York
Owner:New York State Department of Transportation
Designer:AECOM/Tioga Construction
Design:Beam
Material:Steel
Length:770feet[1]
Width:70feet
Height:22.9feet
Spans:4
Load:32.2 tons (29.21 t)
Open:2017
Replaces:Bridge 8

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 and a main span of .

References

42.8504°N -73.8879°W

Notes and References

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