Construction is underway on a $1.8 million bridge strike prevention project for the King Street Bridge in Westchester County.
The project includes new variable message signs, fixed signs, bridge lighting and communications upgrades with the Hudson Valley Traffic Management Center and Westchester County Police Department.
The project to prevent over-height vehicles from striking the King Street Bridge over the Hutchinson River Parkway will take place in the towns of Harrison and Rye, Westchester County. The bridge was struck 130 times from 2008 to 2018, more than any other bridge in the state.
The King Street Bridge project will install two over-height vehicle detectors in advance of the bridge at Exits 26 and 29 of the Hutchinson River Parkway. It also will upgrade the existing detection system at the King Street exit ramp. The enhanced detection system redoubles efforts to prevent bridge strikes at this busy location.
The detection system includes receiver sensors mounted on either side of the Hutchinson River Parkway with an infrared transmitter in advance of the King Street Bridge, creating an infrared beam over the road. When an over-height vehicle breaks the beam, the receiver sends a signal and activates a warning message alert on a sign, notifying the driver to exit the Parkway immediately.
The FY 2020 Executive Budget includes $25 million for bridge strike prevention on state parkways.
“Bridge strikes impact safety and mobility on New York’s parkways, and this new project on the King Street Bridge will help prevent future bridge strikes on the Hutchinson River Parkway. I am also greatly encouraged by Gov. Cuomo’s executive budget proposal, which will inject millions of dollars in new capital to prevent future bridge strikes from happening across New York State,” Department of Transportation acting commissioner Paul Karas said in a statement.
