End of An Era as City Island Bridge Closes After 114 Years in Service

Goodbye beauty, you will surely be missed/Image via City Island Bridge Facebook page.
Goodbye beauty, you will surely be missed/Image via City Island Bridge Facebook page.

Tonight at 1AM, New York City Department of Transportation will shift traffic to and from City Island in The Bronx to the temporary bridge as the old bridge will be replaced—sadly by a not so charming structure. The bridge has been serving clam diggers & mussel suckers alike for 114 years as well as visitors to the picturesque and quaint New England-like island of The Bronx.

So hurry up before 1AM tonight to take your last trip across that famous bridge—or you can take a special “one last ride” across the bridge tomorrow, Friday, December 18th at 3PM starting from Legion Triangle on the City Island side.

A new traffic pattern will be enacted effective Friday, December 18th at 1AM so be sure to take a look below at the images.  You will no longer be allowed to make a left when coming off the bridge and onto City Island.

Traffic will be shifted to the temporary bridge (to the right) at 1AM tonight, December 18th / Image via New City Island Bridge Facebook page
Traffic will be shifted to the temporary bridge (to the right) at 1AM tonight, December 18th / Image via New City Island Bridge Facebook page

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City Island residents had been battling with New York City Department of Transportation over a 160 foot monstrosity that was designed to replace the old bridge but in the end, the community was heard, however, instead of replacing it with a similar structure, a plain old causeway-style bridge. This was the source of much angst amongst local residents for over a decade as they fought tooth and nail.

So instead of this:

Original and controversial design of the replacement City Island Bridge towering at 160 feet.
Original and controversial design of the replacement City Island Bridge towering at 160 feet.

We’re getting this:

Current design of what the replacement bridge will look like once complete.
Current design of what the replacement bridge will look like once complete.
Current design of what the replacement bridge will look like once complete.
Current design of what the replacement bridge will look like once complete.

…and losing this:

Old City Island Bridge/Image via New City Island Bridge Facebook Page
Old City Island Bridge/Image via New City Island Bridge Facebook Page
Ed García Conde

Ed García Conde is a life-long Bronxite who spends his time documenting the people, places, and things that make the borough a special place in the hopes of dispelling the negative stereotypes associated with The Bronx. His writings are often cited by mainstream media and is often consulted for his expertise on the borough's rich history.