Rating:
4 votes

University Heights Bridge

New York County, New York, and Bronx County, New York

Photos 

University Heights Bridge

Viewed from the northeast (Bronx side) in March of 2005

(c) 2005 by Michael Minn (michaelminn.com)

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BH Photo #117471

Map 

Street View 

Description 

The University Heights Bridge, a steel Pratt/Howe truss, pin-connected, rim bearing swing span draw, with Warren truss approach spans, is one of the oldest swing-type bridges and the third oldest major bridge in New York City. It is the work of some of America's most prominent late 19th. century engineers. Although the bridge originally was built at the northern end of Manhattan, continuing Broadway into the Bronx, it was moved to its present site in a complex process beginning in 1905. It is important as an example of circa 1900 bridge technology, and was a vital link in the extension of the Harlem River, which greatly contributed to the development of New York City. It was designated a New York City Landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1984.

-- Historic American Engineering Record

Facts 

Overview
Swing bridge over Harlem River on W. 207th Street in New York
Location
New York City, New York County, New York, and Bronx County, New York
Status
Open to traffic
History
Originally built 1895; main span relocated in 1906; opened to traffic January 8, 1908
Builders
- Alfred P. Boller of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1893-1895)
- George W. Birdsall (1893-1895)
- Othniel F. Nichols (1905-1908)
- William H. Burr (1893-1895)
Design
Swing Pratt through truss
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 134.8 ft.
Total length: 547.9 ft.
Deck width: 45.9 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 15.2 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude
+40.86250, -73.91472   (decimal degrees)
40°51'45" N, 73°54'53" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
18/591463/4524060 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Central Park
Average daily traffic (as of 2011)
35,375
Inventory numbers
NY 2240120 (New York State bridge identification number)
BH 26447 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection report (as of July 2018)
Overall condition: Good
Superstructure condition rating: Good (7 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Good (7 out of 9)
Deck condition rating: Good (7 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 57.7 (out of 100)
View more at BridgeReports.com

Categories 

Alfred P. Boller (8)
Bronx County, New York (111)
Built 1908 (711)
Built during 1900s (7,224)
County line crossing (533)
Flared (403)
Functionally obsolete (6,425)
George W. Birdsall (2)
HAER documented (1,106)
Harlem River (22)
Have street view (26,947)
Movable (2,972)
Navigable waterway (2,152)
New York (4,402)
New York City, New York (320)
 New York County, New York (133)
Open (39,882)
Othniel F. Nichols (1)
Owned by city (5,400)
Pin-connected (3,901)
Pratt through truss (5,391)
Pratt truss (9,298)
Relocated (890)
Span length 125-175 feet (4,222)
Swing (1,454)
Through truss (15,065)
Total length 500-1000 feet (2,871)
Truss (32,788)
William H. Burr (2)

Update Log 

  • August 22, 2020: New photos from Patrick Gurwell
  • December 10, 2015: New Street View added by Douglas Butler
  • January 3, 2015: HAER photos posted by Dave King
  • August 26, 2013: New photo from Douglas Butler
  • July 15, 2008: New photo from Michael Minn

Related Bridges 

Sources 

  • Michael Minn
  • Wikipedia
  • Douglas Butler
  • HAER NY-199 - University Heights Bridge, Spanning Harlem River at 207th Street & West Harlem Road, New York, New York County, NY
  • Patrick Gurwell - pgurwell [at] gmail [dot] com
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Comments 

University Heights Bridge
Posted October 9, 2012, by Larry Weissmann (larryweissmann)

For whatever this is worth regarding its name, "University Heights Bridge" is a complete anachronism. I lived in the neighborhood for over a decade in the 50's-60's, and can't recall ever once hearing it referred to as anything other than "The 207th Street Bridge."