Roslyn viaduct construction nearly done

Motorists faced traffic tie-ups. Residents and business owners complained about construction noise and pollution.

It was all supposed to be over by 2007.

More than six years after work began -- with the final price tag still being tallied -- residents and businesses are relieved that the projected $127-million construction to replace the Roslyn Viaduct is finally almost done.

The half-mile bridge on Route 25A-Northern Boulevard is a critical part of a key east-west route on the North Shore. Commuters take it instead of the Long Island Expressway or Northern State Parkway and can bypass downtown Roslyn. About 30,000 vehicles cross the span daily, according to the state Department of Transportation.

"It's been a long and often difficult process," Roslyn Village mayor John Durkin said. "It's now coming to completion and we're really happy about that."

Durkin -- whose family business, an Italian restaurant and bakery, sits just under the viaduct -- said, "We have a better bridge."

All four lanes of the bridge have been reopened to traffic since late August.

The primary contractor -- Tully Construction Co. Inc., of Flushing -- is installing a railing and sidewalk on the south side for a pedestrian and bicycle path that will be open by early next year, said DOT spokeswoman Eileen Peters.

During the major phase of construction, the bridge's four lanes were reduced to three, with a reversible lane to handle morning and evening rush hour traffic.

One local business owner said his drivers wasted time stuck in traffic.

"My drivers go across the bridge all day long," said David Prestia, a co-owner of Fratelli's Market Place deli and caterer on the west side of the bridge.

The reopening of all four lanes "made things a lot easier -- less detours, less confusion."

Josephine Noto, co-owner of a spa on the west side of the bridge, said, "It definitely made people late for appointments. Now it's back to normal."

Improvements, loose ends

The new concrete bridge is wider and improves sight distances for motorists approaching from the west, state officials said.

It "meets today's engineering and design and safety standards, which will enable it to serve Long Island for decades to come," Peters said.

The bridge also allows for better views of Hempstead Harbor from the surrounding area -- because it has nine spans and eight piers compared to the previous 15 spans and 14 piers, she said.

Still, East Hills Village Mayor Michael Koblenz complained that there are bumps on both sides of the bridge. "For a brand new bridge, it should be smooth," Koblenz said.

The DOT said the approaches to the bridge structure will be rebuilt under a separate contract planned for 2012.

A long process

The original steel girder viaduct, built in 1949, was rusting and deteriorating by the mid-2000s, and it lacked shoulder lanes.

State transportation officials estimated the project would cost about $88 million. But bids came in higher and the budget was set at $127.42 million, with work to be finished by the end of 2007.

Peters said the state has paid $124.75 million.

The state is in the "process of closing out the Roslyn contract, which involves reviewing all costs associated with the job and as a result, we do not have final costs," she said.

Tully Construction wrote on its website that design flaws and defective equipment had caused delays.

Company president Peter Tully could not be reached for comment.

One year of the delay occurred because plans were modified to allow Tully to use a 700-foot gantry crane to lay the concrete segments. The state agreed with the contractor that using the gantry crane would be safer and more effective than using cranes on sloped ground to maneuver concrete segments over water. That delay cost the contractor $2 million in fines, transportation officials said.

Another factor was that initial plans to transport the precast concrete segments to the site by water were scrapped "to protect the environmentally sensitive surroundings," Peters said. "Turbulence could have disturbed aquatic life." The segments were hauled by trailers instead, taking more time.

Then, just as about three-fourths of the work had been completed, state officials negotiating the budget in spring 2010 threatened to temporarily halt funding for the project. The state said workers ultimately were paid on time.

Neighborhood's relief

When the viaduct reopened, residents, local business owners and public officials said they were overjoyed.

"Everyone sent up a cheer when it was fixed and ready to go, when they opened up the lanes on both sides," said Valerie Onorato, village clerk and treasurer for the Village of Roslyn Harbor.

Janet Galante, a former mayor of Roslyn village and a member of a bridge task force, summed up her reaction to the end of the project in one word: "Finally."

Roslyn Viaduct replacement timeline

WINTER 1992-93: Project development begins.

1999: State Department of Transportation begins meetings with local governments and residents to discuss plans.

2001: State officials anticipate work will begin in 2003 and cost about $88 million.

SPRING 2005: Bidding opens. Bids higher than expected; projected cost is $127 million.

SUMMER 2005: Preliminary work begins.

NOVEMBER 2006: Construction and lane reconfiguration begins.

DECEMBER 2007: Initial planned completion date; target date is pushed back several times as delays mount.

SPRING 2010: Then-Gov. David A. Paterson temporarily halts funding in midst of budget battle with state legislature.

LATE AUGUST 2011: All four lanes of the new bridge reopen to traffic.

EARLY 2012: Scheduled completion of a pedestrian and bicycle path on south side of bridge.

About Roslyn Viaduct

LENGTH: Half-mile

WIDTH: Four lanes of 12 feet each, two shoulders of 8 feet each

TRAFFIC: 30,000 vehicles per day

CONDUIT FOR: Route 25A-Northern Boulevard

SPECIAL FEATURE: Improved views of Hempstead Harbor from ground, with nine spans and eight piers; old bridge had 15 spans and 14 piers.

Source: NYS Department of Transportation