Walkway Over the Hudson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 41°42′40″N73°56′38″W / 41.711°N 73.944°W /41.711; -73.944 |
| Carries | Railroad (1889–1974) Hudson Valley Rail Trail (2009–present) |
| Crosses | Hudson River |
| Locale | Poughkeepsie, New York toHighland, New York |
| Website | walkway |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cantilever decktruss bridge |
| Total length | 6,768 feet (2,063 m) |
| Width | 35 feet (11 m)[4] |
| Height | 212 feet (65 m) |
| Longest span | 2 × 548 feet (167 m) |
| No. of spans | 7 |
| Clearance below | 160 feet (49 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Manhattan Bridge Building Company |
| Construction start | 1886 |
| Construction end | 1889 |
| Opened | January 1, 1889 (rail service) October 3, 2009 (pedestrian use) |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Walkway Over the Hudson | |
TheWalkway Over the Hudson is asteelcantilever bridge crossing theHudson River betweenPoughkeepsie, New York andHighland, New York. The structure was completed in 1889 as adouble track railroad bridge, later known as the Poughkeepsie–Highland Railroad Bridge. Rail service ended in 1974 after a fire damaged part of the deck.[5]
The bridge was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1979, with additional documentation recorded in 2008.[1][2] It reopened on October 3, 2009 as a pedestrian walkway in theWalkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park. TheNew York State Bridge Authority owns the bridge structure. The park is operated by theNew York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.[6] The walkway connects theHudson Valley Rail Trail to theDutchess Rail Trail, forming part of theEmpire State Trail.[7]
Proposals for a fixed crossing of the Hudson River south ofAlbany appeared in the nineteenth century. An 1868 proposal for a railroad bridge at Poughkeepsie was discussed in local newspapers.[8] A separate effort, chartered in 1868 as the Hudson Highland Suspension Bridge Company, proposed a crossing near the laterBear Mountain Bridge site. That bridge was not built.
The State of New York chartered the Poughkeepsie Bridge Company in 1872. Early efforts to finance construction were affected by thePanic of 1873.[9]: 51–57 A later attempt began pier construction in 1876, with work complicated by foundation failures. The contractor entered bankruptcy in 1878.[9]: 58–60
In 1886, the Manhattan Bridge Building Company was organized to finance construction. TheUnion Bridge Company was subcontracted for major fabrication work. Foundation engineering was performed by Dawson, Symmes, and Usher. Structural engineering included John F. O'Rourke, P. P. Dickinson, and Arthur B. Paine. The bridge opened for rail service on January 1, 1889 after test operation in late December 1888.
The bridge is a multispan cantilever truss structure. It has seven main spans, with a total length of 6,768 feet (2,063 m) including approaches. The deck is approximately 212 feet (65 m) above the river.
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The bridge served freight traffic on routes linking southern New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and the Midwest via connecting railroads. Ownership, control, or operating interest passed through several railroads during the twentieth century, including theNew York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad and laterPenn Central.[10] Engineering work to strengthen the bridge was completed in 1907 to accommodate heavier trains, with design work attributed to engineerRalph Modjeski.[11] In 1917–1918, the tracks were converted togauntlet track operation, with speed restrictions reported in secondary sources.[12] A centered single track replaced the gauntlet arrangement in 1959.[10]
On May 8, 1974, a fire damaged approximately 700 feet (210 m) of decking and underlying structure on the east end of the bridge.[13] Rail service over the bridge ended after the fire. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the bridge remained out of service. Portions of the approach structure required attention after debris fell onto adjacent roadways, prompting repair and removal work reported in local coverage.[14]
In 1984,Conrail sold the bridge to a private investor group for a nominal price, as described in contemporary reporting.[15] During this period, issues related to maintenance, insurance, lighting, and utility attachments were subject to litigation and regulatory proceedings.[16]
In 1998, a nonprofit organization, Walkway Over the Hudson, acquired the bridge through its New York corporate entity, with the stated goal of conversion to pedestrian use. Conversion work included structural repairs and installation of a concrete deck. The walkway opened to the public on October 3, 2009.
In December 2010, the nonprofit conveyed the structure to theNew York State Bridge Authority.[17]
The park opened on October 3, 2009. The bridge is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to dusk, subject to park rules and closures. Parking, restrooms, and visitor facilities are located near each end of the bridge.[18] Bicycles are permitted. Skateboards are prohibited, per posted rules.[18]
The walkway links theDutchess Rail Trail on the east side with theHudson Valley Rail Trail on the west side. These trails connect to other segments of theEmpire State Trail.[19]
An east pavilion opened in 2013.[20] A glass elevator connectingUpper Landing Park to the walkway opened in 2014.[21]
A welcome center on the west side opened in 2018.[22] A welcome center on the east side opened in 2019.[23] A plaza at the east entrance opened in 2021, funded through state capital sources and partner support.[24]
The walkway hosts organized runs, seasonal programs, and permitted special events. A 5K race associated with the opening weekend took place in October 2009, with results published by race organizers.[25]
In January 2017, a march associated with the2017 Women's March took place on the walkway, with attendance estimates reported in local coverage.[26]
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Crossings of theHudson River | ||||
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