Quaker Bridge

The Quaker Bridge is a historic Pratt through truss that carries Quaker Bridge Road over the Croton River in Westchester County, New York.

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The Quaker Bridge, which spans the Croton River, has undergone several iterations since its initial construction in 1847 as a covered bridge. ¹ The original covered span was destroyed by floodwaters, and in 1894, it was replaced with a Pratt through steel truss designed by Dean & Westbrook of New York City. ^{2 3} Notably, the site of the new bridge was once under consideration as the location for the New Croton Dam, which would have served as a water supply source. ^{3 7}

In 1951, the Quaker Bridge was repaired by the B.F. Welding and Repair Company of Yonkers for a cost of $6,677. ⁴ However, the bridge, which had an eight-ton weight limit, was deemed inadequate for modern traffic needs, and in 1953, it was announced that a new girder structure, 24 feet wide and capable of supporting a 20-ton load, would replace the aging bridge. ⁶ No work towards its replacement was carried out.

The Quaker Bridge was later rehabilitated in the fall of 1977 by the Spencer Construction Corp. of Mamaroneck at a cost of $107,103. ⁵ The project involved repainting the bridge and replacing the wooden deck with a gridded steel surface to support the town’s fire trucks.

A more extensive rehabilitation of the Quaker Bridge began in September 1994, with a budget of $450,000. ³ The project involved replacing all supports that fastened the deck to the main structure, installing a new roadway deck, and a complete repainting. After the rehabilitation work was completed, the weight limit was raised from six tons to 15 tons, up from the original limit of 12 tons. The bridge reopened to traffic on March 29, 1995.

Another rehabilitation in 2010 focused on pin replacements, which required the removal of the bridge railings and concrete-filled steel deck grates and the erection of a temporary support system, the replacement of damaged vertical truss members, the replacement of steel base plate beneath truss bearings and stringers, and the repointing of the stone abutments and wing walls. ⁸

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Details

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Sources

1. Cheshire, Marc. “Quaker Bridge, Before 1894.” Croton History & Mysteries, 16 Mar. 2015.
2. Bridge plaque.
3. Merrill, Susan. “Despite the sign, the 101-year-old Quaker Bridge is open and stronger than before.” Citizen Register, 18 Apr. 1995, p. 3A.
4. “Only 2 Bids Received for Quaker Bridge Job.” Daily Times, 10 Jul. 1951, p. 8.
5. “Work on Quaker Bridge delayed until late fall.” Reporter Dispatch, 21 Aug. 1977, p. A2.
6. “Croton Bridge To Be Widened.” Daily Times, 19 Nov. 1953, p. 16.
7. Sanchis, Frank E. “The architecture of Westchester.” Daily Item, 4 Dec. 1977, pp. G9-G12.
8. “Rehabilitation of Quaker Bridge Road Over the Croton River.” Westchester County, New York Department of Public Works, 16 Feb. 2010.