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The Parkway Road Bridge, which connects Bronxville and Yonkers, has been closed to vehicular traffic since June 2013, when members of the state Department of Transportation forced village officials to close it after it was deemed a hazard during a routine inspection.
Following the emergency closure, officials with the county, in Eastchester, Bronxville and Yonkers haggled over who was responsible for which portion of nearly $200,000 in construction and consulting costs, creating additional delays on the project.
The bridge was originally scheduled to be open as early as last year, but the countless delays and issues with construction forced the grand re-opening into September. An April opening was planned, but when construction bids came in over budget, village officials were forced to find a second contractor.
The Parkway Road Bridge was a source of frustration in the village for years before the state DOT officially closed it down. It was intermittently closed to traffic several times in 2012, including a lengthy stretch when a nearby water mane broke and flooded the area, damaging the road surface.
Bronxville Police Chief Christopher Satriale said that with the bridge’s grand re-opening, his department will be strictly enforcing traffic laws.
“With the opening of the Parkway Road Bridge and the start of school, the police department will be aggressive in enforcing vehicle and traffic law violations on Parkway Road and surrounding streets,” he stated. “Officers will be assigned to intersections in proximity to the schools, reminding drivers to slow down and be cautious.”
According to Satriale, while it’s been closed, the bridge has become a popular spot for recreation, which now presents a problem with it being re-opened to vehicular traffic.
“During the closure of the bridge, many neighborhood children used the roadway for skateboarding and riding their bicycles,” he added. “The return of vehicular traffic to the roadway makes this a dangerous activity. We’re urging (the community) to assist us in maintaining the safety by not permitting children to skateboard, roller blade or ride their bicycle in the roadway.”
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