Wittpenn Bridge

{{Infobox bridge

|bridge_name= Wittpenn Bridge

|image=Wittpenn Bridge, April 2022.jpg

|image_size=300

|caption=The current span of the Wittpenn Bridge as seen in April 2022

|official_name= Wittpenn Bridge

|also_known_as= Route 7 Bridge

|carries= {{jct|state=NJ|NJ|7}}
Future East Coast Greenway

|crosses= Hackensack River

|locale= Jersey City and Kearny, New Jersey

|maint= New Jersey Department of Transportation

|id= 0909150{{cite web| title = Historic Bridge Survey (1991–1994) | publisher = NJDOT| year = 2001| url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/works/environment/pdf/Historic_BR_Hudson.pdf| access-date =2013-03-26}}

|design= Lift bridge

|mainspan= {{convert|83|ft}}

|length= {{convert|2169|ft}}

|width= {{convert|40|ft}}

|clearance=

|below= {{convert|35|ft}} (lowered)
{{convert|100|ft}} (raised)

|traffic=

|open= November 5, 1930 (original bridge)

October 2, 2021 (replacement bridge)

|coordinates={{coord|40.740625|N|74.081336|W|display=inline,title|region:US_type:landmark|name=Wittpenn Bridge}}

}}

The Wittpenn Bridge is a vertical-lift bridge that carries New Jersey Route 7 over the Hackensack River in Jersey City and Kearny, in Hudson County, New Jersey. It is named after H. Otto Wittpenn, a former mayor of Jersey City. The bridge has an annual average daily traffic (AADT) of nearly 50,000 vehicles, including about 2,000 trucks.{{cite news |url=http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2OTUmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NzgzMDgmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk5 |title=Picture this: Drawbridge Operator |work=The Record |date=April 11, 2005 |last=Franklin |first=Thomas E. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060308075853/http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2OTUmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NzgzMDgmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk5 |archive-date=March 8, 2006}} In 2005, the bridge was raised 80 times to accommodate boats passing underneath. The original span opened in 1930; its replacement opened in 2021.

Original structure

File:Wittpenn Bridge.jpg

The original bridge carried four {{convert|10|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide}} lanes, extended {{convert|2169|ft}} and stood {{convert|35|ft}} above mean high water with a {{convert|209|ft|adj=on}} main lift span. Bridge construction commenced in 1927, and it was opened to vehicular traffic on November 5, 1930. When raised, the bridge provided {{convert|100|ft}} of clearance for ships. Raising the lift span required 15 minutes.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} Following the opening of the 2021 span, demolition work commenced on this span with work being substantially complete by March 2022.{{cite web |url=https://moveitmagazine.com/2022/03/30/engineered-rigging-overcomes-bridge-demolition-challenges/ |last=Thomas |first=William |date=March 30, 2022 |title=Engineered Rigging overcomes bridge demolition challenges |website=Move It Magazine |accessdate=April 4, 2022}}

Replacement

File:Rte 7 approach to new Wittpenn Bridge 2020 jeh.jpg

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) replaced the Wittpenn Bridge and all its approach ramps (including connections to U.S. Route 1/9), a project estimated to cost $600 million, funded by federal dollars. The first phase of construction began in July 2011. The new span opened in 2021, and all associated project work is expected to be completed in 2022.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2016/12/5_year_done_7_years_to_go_for_500m_new_wittpenn_br.html|title = 5 years done, 6 to go for new $480M Wittpenn Bridge|last = McDonald|first = Terrence T.|date = 21 December 2016}} The new bridge is situated just north of the existing bridge.Conti Group (2011). [http://www.conticorp.com/news/view/conti_to_kick_off_wittpenn_bridge_repairs "Conti to Kick off Wittpenn Bridge Repairs"] 2011-07-18.

The reconstruction of the bridge was partially funded by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.{{cite web| url=http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2015/05/another_new_bridge_quietly_rises_in_shadow_of_the_pulaski_skyway.html| title=Another new bridge quietly rises in shadow of the Pulaski Skyway| work=NJ.com| last=Higgs| first=Larry| date=14 May 2015}} In November 2018, the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) investigated a complaint raised by United Airlines that the fees they were paying for Newark Airport use were being diverted to roadway and bridge projects such as the Wittpenn Bridge which are not owned or operated by the Port Authority.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2018/11/feds_rap_port_authority_for_funding_pulaski_skyway.html |title=Feds question Port Authority's use of airline fees to fund bridge projects |last=Higgs |first=Larry |date=January 29, 2019 |website=NJ.com}}

In October 2020 the third and final section of the orthotropic bridge deck was hoisted into place, partially built on the former overpass that carried US US 1-9 truck, which now carries both routes instead.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/news/2020/10/section-of-new-wittpenn-bridge-hoisted-into-place-but-its-not-ready-to-open-yet.html|title = Section of new Wittpenn Bridge hoisted into place -- but it's not ready to open yet|last = Higgs|first = Larry|date = 11 October 2020}} The bridge opened on October 2, 2021.{{cite web |last=Canessa Jr. |first=Kevin |title=New Wittpenn Bridge is opening Oct. 1 and it's welcome news for Hudson drivers |url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2021/09/new-wittpenn-bridge-is-opening-oct-1-and-its-welcome-news-for-hudson-drivers.html |website=NJ.com |publisher=The Jersey Journal |date=21 September 2021 |access-date=27 September 2021}}{{Cite web|first=Steve|last=Strunsky|date=2021-10-02|title=New Wittpenn Bridge opens after 10 years and half a billion dollars|url=https://www.nj.com/news/2021/10/new-wittpenn-bridge-opens-after-10-years-and-half-a-billion-dollars.html|access-date=2021-10-03|website=nj|language=en}}

In addition to Route 7, the new span carries the East Coast Greenway, a long-distance biking and walking trail, and the Meadowlands Connector, a New Jersey biking and walking trail that links Hudson and Essex counties.{{cite web| url=http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2017/03/cycling_group_creating_trails_linking_hudson_and_e.html#incart_river_home_pop| title=New bike, walking trail would link N.J.'s 2 largest cities| last=Strunsky| first=Steve| date=27 March 2017| access-date=27 March 2017}}

References

External links

{{commons category-inline|Wittpenn Bridge}}
[http://bridgestunnels.com/location/wittpenn-bridge/ Wittpenn Bridge] at Bridges & Tunnels
[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/roads/rt7wittpenn/ Wittpenn Bridge Replacement Project] at New Jersey Department of Transportation
[http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/wittpenn/ Wittpenn Bridge] at NYCroads.com
{{Structurae|id=20043336|name=Wittpenn Bridge}}

{{Crossings navbox

|structure = Crossings

|place = Hackensack River

|bridge = Wittpenn Bridge

|bridge signs = 20px

|upstream = Lower Hack Lift

|upstream signs =

|downstream = Harsimus Branch Lift Bridge

|downstream signs =

}}

Category:Bridges completed in 1930

Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2022