Constructed Value:
$800 Million

Project Duration:
1991 - 2005

Parsons Services:
Inspection, Design and Construction Services

Installation of transit track at the Brooklyn approach. The panels were prefabricated onsite in 29-foot sections.

The historic Williamsburg Bridge has been part of the New York City skyline for more than 97 years. This landmark connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn over the East River is a vital link in the city’s transportation network, carrying eight lanes of traffic, two mass-transit railroad tracks and a pedestrian walkway. It is also a major truck route between Manhattan and Long Island and funnels more than 100,000 vehicles and 90,000 transit riders daily.

Inspections in the 1970s and 1980s revealed corrosion in the bridge's main cables and suspenders and in the steel members below the deck. A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) formed in 1987 evaluated rehabilitation and replacement options. An assessment of the main cables projected that by 1992 they would be unsafe to support the bridge and its traffic.

In 1988, Parsons performed a cable investigation and routine biennial inspection of the bridge. The Parsons inspection team discovered extensive deterioration of the steel girders, mainly on the approaches. The team found 400 areas where the structural conditions required immediate attention. The team also discovered that the floor beams under the mass-transit tracks were in poor condition. The decision was made to close the bridge to trains, a step followed by the headline-making news that the bridge would be closed to all traffic for three months to expedite inspections and emergency repairs.

The poor condition of the bridge coupled with its importance to the city’s transportation system network demanded a speedy and permanent solution. The possibility of rehabilitation was evaluated and compared with the effects of a complete replacement. Extensive community input was sought through the bridge repair evaluation process. The TAC’s final recommendation was to completely replace the approaches but to keep and rehabilitate the existing bridge. Based on preliminary cost estimates, this alternative minimized both the total bridge reconstruction costs and the disruption to the communities and businesses near the bridge.

The Brooklyn tower of the Williamsburg Bridge and the walkway/bikeway on the south side of the bridge in Brooklyn. Upon completion, the walkway/bikeway will be handicap accessible.

The long-term project was split into a total of eight contracts. The first three covered the rehabilitation of certain components and were handled by the city or its contractors. For the remaining five contracts (#4 through #8), Parsons, along with a team of subconsultants, was commissioned to design the reconstruction. It was one of the largest bridge projects ever undertaken in the world. Work began in 1991 and includes rehabilitating the cable suspension system, reconstructing the south roadways, replacing the subway tracks on the Brooklyn-Manhattan line, reconstructing the north roadways and rehabilitating the towers. Parsons is also providing construction support services for each phase.

During bridge rehabilitation, various measures were successfully implemented to provide alternative transportation for the more than 90,000 subway riders who cross the Williamsburg Bridge each day. Frequent bus service across the bridge was also made available. Train service across the bridge was resumed early because the work on contract 6 was completed 35 days ahead of schedule.

Contract 7, now in progress, encompasses the reconstruction of the north, Manhattan-bound roadways. Under this contract, the permanent walkway for pedestrians and cyclists will be completed, resulting in a crossing that is fully accessible to the handicapped. This contract is scheduled for completion in December 2002.

Brooklyn end span with track stringers removed.

Contract 8, currently under design by Parsons, includes strengthening the main tower, reinforcing the top chord of the stiffening truss and adjusting the suspender lengths to modify the bridge's profile. The construction work included in the contract is tentatively scheduled for January 2003 through May 2005.

The importance of bridge maintenance is reflected in this project. During the design stages, Parsons gave special attention to minimizing the maintenance required. Also, easy access has been provided to all parts of the bridge requiring frequent inspection. With proper inspection and maintenance practices firmly in place, the Williamsburg Bridge should, upon completion of this rehabilitation, be a viable structure for another 100 years.