The New York State Department of Transportation rehabilitated the 103-year-old Wurts Street Bridge over Rondout Creek and Dock Street, connecting Esopus and Kingston in Ulster County, NY, between September 2020 and July 2024. The $63 million project preserved this valued community asset using cost-effective solutions, while boosting travel capacity, improving safety for all users, and reducing future maintenance needs. Originally built in 1922 and the only suspension bridge directly owned by NYSDOT, the Wurst Street Bridge rehabilitation project benefitted from IIJA funding that helped return it to its original 20-ton capacity after being restricted to three tons since 2014 due to structural deterioration before its closure in 2020. Improvements to the bridge include new guide rails, wider sidewalks, granite curbs, plus and suspender ropes and cables. NYSDOT also installed climate control systems inside the enclosed chambers where bridge’s main cables are anchored to control moisture and prevent corrosion, along with a decorative lighting system on the exterior structure that can be adapted to celebrate special events and holidays.
America's Transportation Awards 