LIRR makes plans to demolish, reconstruct Colonial Road Bridge

MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is set to begin later this month a $45 million project to rebuild the Colonial Road bridge.

On March 30, LIRR will close the Colonial Road Bridge in preparation for contractors to begin demolition of the 115-year-old bridge. A new one will be built in its place.

Aimed at improving drainage problems at the track level, the plan involves constructing a new retaining wall and extending an existing pocket track. As a result of the demolition, the bridge will be closed for one year, officials said.

Most of the construction work will occur during off-peak daytime hours, although continuous day and overnight work is planned for the weekend of June 19-22 for the demolition of the bridge, and it will continue over two as-yet unnamed weekends in the fall as the new bridge is installed. The entire project is set for completion by the end of 2018, LIRR officials said.

"The improvements will not only provide the community with a safer bridge, the extended pocket track will enable the LIRR to turn trains faster and provide better rush hour service from Great Neck and stations west of Great Neck on the busy Port Washington Branch," said LIRR President Patrick Nowakowski.

The new bridge will retain Colonial Road's existing alignment, and traffic signage will be in place to assist drivers in finding alternative routes, he said.