Macombs Dam Bridge
The Macombs Dam Bridge (/məˈkuːmz/ mə-KOOMZ; also Macomb's Dam Bridge) is a swing bridge across the Harlem River in New York City, connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. The bridge is operated and maintained by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT).
Macombs Dam Bridge | |
|---|---|
View of the over-water span from the south; the Bronx approach viaduct can be seen at right | |
| Coordinates | 40°49′41″N 73°56′02″W |
| Carries | Four lanes of vehicular traffic |
| Crosses | Harlem River |
| Locale | Manhattan and the Bronx, New York City |
| Named for | Macombs Dam |
| Owner | City of New York |
| Maintained by | NYCDOT |
| Heritage status | New York City designated landmark |
| Preceded by | High Bridge |
| Followed by | 145th Street Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | swing and camelback bridge |
| Total length | 2,540 ft (770 m) |
| Longest span | 408 ft (124 m) |
| Clearance below | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
| No. of lanes | 4 |
| History | |
| Construction cost | $24 million (viaduct, in 2022 values) $46 million (over-water span, in 2022 values) $181 million (rehabilitation) |
| Opened | May 1, 1895 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 38,183 (2016) |
| Designated | January 14, 1992 |
| Reference no. | 1629 |
| Designated entity | 155th Street Viaduct and over-river span |
| Location | |
The Macombs Dam Bridge connects the intersection of 155th Street and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue), located in Manhattan, with the intersection of Jerome Avenue and 161st Street, located near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The 155th Street Viaduct, one of the bridge's approaches in Manhattan, carries traffic on 155th Street from Seventh Avenue to the intersection with Edgecombe Avenue and St. Nicholas Place. The bridge is 2,540 feet (770 m) long in total, with four vehicular lanes and two sidewalks.
The first bridge at the site was constructed in 1814 as a true dam called Macombs Dam. Because of complaints about the dam's impact on the Harlem River's navigability, the dam was demolished in 1858 and replaced three years later with a wooden swing bridge called the Central Bridge, which required frequent maintenance. The current steel span was built between 1892 and 1895, while the 155th Street Viaduct was built from 1890 to 1893; both were designed by Alfred Pancoast Boller. The Macombs Dam Bridge is the third-oldest major bridge still operating in New York City, and along with the 155th Street Viaduct, was designated a New York City Landmark in 1992.