Newburgh-Beacon Bridge Substantial Completion
Substantial Completion of $95 Million Yonkers Contracting Newburgh-Beacon Bridge Project
09/30/2022 - Governor Kathy Hochul announced the substantial completion of the full deck replacement project and the full reopening of the north span of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on September 30th to recognize the project. The substantial completion of this Yonkers project is nine months ahead of the original schedule. The project, which started in December 2020, was originally scheduled for completion in summer 2023.
The project brought a brand-new road surface for commuters and truckers traveling westbound on I-84, and included a composite steel and concrete grid deck, concrete barrier with granite curb, and various strengthening of the bridge members. Concrete was poured in place on the bridge, rather than installing pre-poured panels of concrete on the bridge, which eliminated joints between panels and ensured a better finished product. The new deck was topped with an asphalt overlay to help maximize the life of the new deck.
In addition to the base bid of $95 million for deck replacement, Yonkers did an additional $6.8 million project to install structural elements for the bridge's conversion to cashless tolling, which took place in July 2021. The $101.8 million contract is the largest capital contract in the New York State Bridge Authority's history.
The north span of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge first opened in 1963, and the last deck replacement took place in the early 1980s. The south span of the bridge didn’t open until 1980. Yonkers was part of a joint venture in 1976 that built the substructure foundations in the river for the south span.
The New York State Bridge Authority (NYSBA) oversaw and funded the project through their capital improvement program. New York State Bridge Authority Board of Commissioners Chair Joan McDonald said, "The Newburgh-Beacon Bridge re-decking project has been a signature undertaking for the New York State Bridge Authority. The Bridge Authority's staff and contractors [Yonkers Contracting] have risen to the challenge of completing the project. The Board congratulates them on being diligent and resourceful through the Bridge re-opening. All motorists who traverse through this stretch of the Hudson Valley will benefit from this project for years to come."