New York: Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge

Economic Activity is Two-Way Street – Or Bridge – In Up State New York   

The Challenge: The iconic Castleton-On-Hudson Bridge – known simply as the Castleton Bridge – opened to traffic in upper New York State in the late 1950’s. The mile-long span connects Albany and Rensselaer Counties over the Hudson River, carrying over 17,000 cars and trucks each day for six million crossings annually. In the last two decades emergency repairs to the aging steel bridge have shut down traffic, taking a toll on the local economy and testing drivers’ patience. A $47.6 million overhaul of the westbound deck, which included replacement of the center median and repairs to the steel girders, started in 2021 and finished in 2023.

The Solution: Now, with help from the bipartisan infrastructure investment law, the New York State Thruway Authority can address the deteriorating eastbound deck. The deck will be replaced, crews will repair more steel girders, and maintenance safety features will be addressed. The rehabilitation is expected to extend the service life of the Castleton Bridge by another 50 years – eliminating the need for constant repairs and closures. 

What They’re Saying: “This is a real inconvenience for us. In the past year it’s gotten much worse in actual closures of the bridge. For a day or two at a time they make an emergency repair. It’s a real costly detour for us when we have to go around it.” – Local Business Owner Steve Irwin, Clinton’s Ditch Co-Op (6 News WRBG Albany, 04/13/2023) 

Photo Credit: NYS Thruway Authority Facebook post on 11/13/2023