Project to rebuild historic Mount Vernon bridge begins next month

<p>A project to tear down and rebuild an aging bridge connecting Mount Vernon to Pelham is set to begin next month.</p>

News 12 Staff

Sep 20, 2017, 2:14 AM

Updated 2,419 days ago

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A project to tear down and rebuild an aging bridge connecting Mount Vernon to Pelham is set to begin next month.
Mount Vernon resident Daniel Morales says the historic East Third Street Bridge that runs over the Hutchinson River Parkway is part of his everyday life.
"I use it every day, even to go to the train station to go to school in the morning, so it's necessary," he says.
Morales says he sees signs of construction on the bridge that was built back in 1927, but he's worried that rebuilding the structure will mean a longer commute.
A meeting in Pelham Tuesday night clarified how tearing down and rebuilding the bridge would impact residents on both sides.
"Traffic is always a concern. Safety is another big one, but we are happy to partner with the state, we have been working with them for months," says Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas.
Officials say the project will be completed in several stages. First, a temporary two-way bridge that includes a pedestrian path will be built and used as the old bridge is torn down and replaced.
The bridge will contain stones from the old one and will have added protections against flooding.
The project will require some lanes on the Hutchinson River Parkway to be closed but a contractor tells News 12 that will likely happen on weekends during off-peak traffic times.
The project is expected to be completed by August 2018.


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