Updated: From a Family Photo Album: The Central Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge
Patrick Ahern was looking through his family photo album and discovered these Motor Parkway photos taken by his father Jerry Ahern.
These photos show the abandoned Central Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge likely being prepared for demolition. The photo was taken around 1950.
Thanks for sharing Pat!
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Jerry's brother Bob on top of the bridge.
Note: The holes in the concrete embankment.
Keiner's Kolumn (Submitted by Art Kleienr)
The Central Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge was taken down after November 1949.
Comments
EXCELLENT!
The image with the gentleman on the bridge, camera was viewing south. Great shot, the steel tower that’s on the west side of the ROW is still there today.
The holes must be for dynamite. Pretty sure the view here is northwest. The steel tower on the opposite side of the bridge isn’t there today, but the old concrete foundation is. Dave & Sam first came upon this foundation. Frank F and I also viewed this closely and saw where the 4 tower legs were cut flush. Foundation is on the south side of the tracks, and the historical marker is a little ways left of the foundation. Here’s 2 views from the website: Southeast - crossing gates, and my Northwest guess. The homes seen should be along Revere Ave.
Correction- Image with the booth & crossing gates is southwest, not southeast.
Ahern is familiar to me. When you have time Howard, could you ask Pat if he has a relative that worked for LILCO? I recall a lineman with that surname when I worked in Hicksville. Thanks
Pat Ahern has dated his father’s photos.
GREAT detailed photos of the longest Motor Parkway bridge. The black drill by the embankment also captured the surrounding views, feeling like you’re actually standing there on the corner by Old Central Ave. Amazing capture in such a narrow field. The dilapidated LIMP roadway above likely the reason for the bridge’s removal. I only wish the LIMPPS were around then to help preserve it. We could’ve painted it, cleaned around it, and immortalize this structure as proper. Thank you Patrick for sharing these long lost gems!
Art Kleiner has added a news clipping about the removal of the bridge.
Brian, Patrick’s father Jerry Ahern had a company that sold construction equipment. I knew Jerry as we both dealt with the same construction firms. I seem to recall he was a Caterpillar dealer.
Very cool images….Thanks for posting them here…
Thanks, Al. Ahern is familiar, it’ll come to me at some point.