MTA replaces bridge on Park Avenue viaduct project

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has completed the bridge replacement portion of the first phase of the Park Avenue viaduct replacement project, the New York agency announced yesterday.

The bridge replacement was completed ahead of schedule and below the $590 million budget. Federal funds covered nearly $501 million of the cost, according to MTA.

MTA replaced 8,240 track feet of the 132-year-old bridge in East Harlem without disrupting service on MTA Metro-North Railroad, authority officials said in a press release.

The structure carries four Metro-North tracks along Park Avenue between East 110th Street and Harlem River lift bridge. The rest of Phase 1 — primarily additional work on rail systems on the new bridge — will continue throughout winter. MTA officials anticipate the first phase will be substantially completed in April 2026.

Using a gantry system, the MTA was able to replace entire sections of the existing bridge deck with 128 prefabricated bridge units. This efficient method allowed for the MTA to begin the second phase of the viaduct replacement project simultaneously, which puts the entire viaduct replacement project 51 weeks ahead of schedule and $93 million under its initial budget, said MTA officials.