Historic Bear Mountain Bridge Set for $62.1M Renovation in 2026

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The Bear Mountain Bridge, which has completed its 100th year of service in 2024, is getting some upgrades. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026.

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The New York State Bridge Authority has announced some major modifications including replacement of the aging deck, widening sidewalks, upgrading concrete barriers, and installing climb-deterrent fencing on this historic span.

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Bear Mountain Bridge opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1924, it marked a significant achievement in engineering as the longest suspension bridge in the world at that time.

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The Bear Mountain Bridge serves as a crucial connector between Orange/Rockland and Westchester/Putnam.

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The first of the several meetings was held on March 13, 2025, to prioritize public engagement. At this meeting, community members emphasized the importance of suicide prevention measures.

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One pedestrian sidewalk will remain open throughout the construction period to maintain access to non-vehicular traffic.

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The Bear Mountain Bridge has seen annual crossings jump from 483,000 during WWII to over 7 million today.

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Experts in the field have noted the importance of balancing modernization with historical preservation.

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The climb-deterrent fencing has received strong community support during initial public meetings.

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The inclusion of suicide prevention measures reflects growing awareness of mental health concerns and public safety.

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[{"selector":"#anim-b8a0fd98-7a37-46cc-99f4-d619e1c61923","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-feb1c53a-2f06-4bb4-9783-83f08ddac942","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e9c1c6e-b7b5-4f41-baa2-abba27269451","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb991942-d5c0-41c5-9bba-5918898e3f39","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9afa72b-2fad-4357-a5e1-cfe5142b776d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.23810%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] US Allocates $25.7M to Protect 10,000 Acres of Coastal Wetlands Learn more