Wittpenn Bridge

Infobox_Bridge
bridge_name= Wittpenn Bridge


caption= The Wittpenn Bridge carries NJ Route 7 over the Hackensack River
official_name= Wittpenn Bridge
also_known_as= Route 7 Bridge
carries= 4 Lanes of NJ Route 7
crosses= Hackensack River
locale= Jersey City, New Jersey and Kearny, New Jersey
maint= New Jersey Department of Transportation
id=
design= Lift bridge
mainspan= 83 feet
length= 2,169 feet
width= 40 feet
clearance=
below= 35 ft (lowered); 100 ft (raised)
traffic=
open= November 5, 1930

The Wittpenn Bridge is a vertical lift bridge that carries New Jersey Route 7 over the Hackensack River connecting Kearny and Jersey City, New Jersey. The bridge is comprised of four ten-foot wide lanes, extending 2,169 feet and standing 35 feet above mean high water with an 83 foot main lift span. Bridge construction commenced 1927, and was opened to vehicular traffic November 5, 1930. The bridge has an Annual average daily traffic (AADT) of nearly 50,000 vehicles, including about 2,000 trucks [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2OTUmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2NzgzMDgmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk5 Picture this: Drawbridge Operator] , "The Record (Bergen County)", April 11, 2005]

When raised, the bridge provides 100 feet of clearance for ships. In 2005, the bridge was raised to accommodate 80 boats passing underneath, a process that takes 15 minutes to raise the lift span.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is developing plans to replace the Wittpenn Bridge and all its approach ramps (including connections to U.S. Route 1/9), a project estimated to cost $350 million, funded by federal dollars. Once funding issues have been addressed, construction is expected to start in the spring of 2007. The new bridge would be situated just north of the existing bridge. [ [http://www.nj.gov/transportation/works/studies/rt7wittpenn/faq.shtm Route 7 Wittpenn Bridge - Frequently Asked Questions] , accessed October 19, 2006]

References

External links

* [http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/wittpenn/ Wittpenn Bridge - Historic Overview]
* [http://www.nj.gov/transportation/works/studies/rt7wittpenn/ Route 7 Wittpenn Bridge: Kearny and Jersey City, Hudson County - Preliminary Design Development]