Pelham Bridge

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The Pelham Bridge is a bascule bridge in the Bronx, New York City. It carries Shore Road and a pedestrian and bike path over the Hutchinson River. The bridge is maintained by the New York City Department of Transportation and sits just downstream of the Pelham Bay Bridge.

The bridge is used by buses BL45 and Bx29. It opens often for ships—the city counted 724 openings in 2014, more than any other drawbridge in New York.

History
- The site has seen several bridges. The first was a stone bridge built in 1815 and destroyed in a storm in 1816.
- A new bridge wasn’t built for about 18 years.
- The current bridge was built to replace an older, maintenance-heavy structure. It opened to traffic on October 15, 1908 to save costs, and was completed on February 17, 1909, at a total cost of $605,274.06.
- During construction, the city had to import water for City Island and Pelham Bay Park, costing about $5,324.
- The bridge was reconstructed in 1985. A centennial celebration was held on October 28, 2008.

Specifications
- Length: about 891 feet (272 meters)
- Roadway: 40 feet (12 meters); downstream sidewalk: 7.5 feet (2.3 meters)
- Longest span: 80 feet (24 meters)
- Spans: Seven; piers in the water: Six
- Clearance below: 17.5 feet (5.3 meters)
- Structure: Concrete and steel