Union Avenue Bridge (Passaic River) Explained

Bridge Name:	Union Avenue Bridge
Other Name:	Douglas O. Mead Bridge
Carries:	Union Avenue (CR S32) to River Drive and Route 21
Locale:	Rutherford & Passaic, New Jersey
Owner:	Bergen County and Passaic County
Maint:	NJDOT
Id:	1600022^[1]
Material:	Steel/concrete
Length:	295.9feet
Width:	39feet
Mainspan:	80.1feet
Spans:	4
Clearance:	16.1feet
Builder:	M.J. Paquet, Inc^[2]
Cost:	$9.5m
Coordinates:	40.8416°N -74.123°W
References:	^[3] ^[4] ^[5]

Union Avenue Bridge is a vehicular bridge over the Passaic River in northeastern New Jersey, crossing the county line at the town of Rutherford in Bergen County and the city of Passaic in Passaic County.^[6] It takes its name from Union Avenue (CR S32) in Rutherford which connects to River Drive (and access to Route 21) in Passaic. The two-lane, four-span fixed bridge which opened in 2002 is from the river's mouth at Newark Bay.^[7] There is another Union Avenue Bridge traversing the Passaic at Little Falls

History

The bridge replaced an earlier structure built in 1896.^[5] In 1963 it was struck by a barge which left it damaged; requiring it remain in the open position for two weeks.^[8] It was dedicated to Douglas O. Mead (1894–1971), a World War I and World War II veteran.

See also

• List of crossings of the Lower Passaic River
• List of county routes in Bergen County, New Jersey
• Rutherford (NJT station)

External links

• Postcard 1909

Notes and References

1. Web site: Interim Bridge Report . NJDOT. August 9, 2007 . 21 December 2016.
2. http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/business/procurement/ConstrServ/BidTabs/01/TB00141.TXT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNION AVENUE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OVER PASSAIC RIVER CONTRACT AWARD DATE OCTOBER 30, 2000
3. Web site: Uglybridges.com - UNION AVENUE over PASSAIC RIVER, Bergen County, New Jersey. 19 January 2016.
4. Web site: Bridgehunter.com - Passaic River Bridge. bridgehunter.com. 28 December 2015.
5. Web site: Union Avenue Bridge over Passaic River . Historic Bridge Survey (1991–1994) . New Jersey Department of Transportation . 2001 . 16 January 2016. The Pratt thru truss swing span supported on ashlar and concrete substructure has double intersecting Warren deck truss approach spans. In 1924 the bridge operation was motorized. Cables were added at an unknown date to strengthen several truss diagonals. In 1977 an approach span collapsed and emergency repairs were made. An early and increasingly rare example of a thru truss swing bridge built by nationally recognized NYC engineers Dean and Westbrook, the span is evaluated as eligible..
6. Union Avenue bridge over Passaic River to open to traffic tonight. NJDOT. 16 January 2016.
7. Web site: Section 117.739 - Passaic River. . Code of Federal Regulations Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters Volume: 1 . Government Publishing Office . July 1, 2002 . PDF . 15 January 2015.
8. Web site: Ramming by Empty Barge Cripples Passaic Bridge.