Kleiner’s Korner: The Motor Parkway Bridges & the Nassau County Board of Supervisors in 1907 & 1908
Long Island Motor Parkway General Manager Arthur Pardington petitioned the Nassau County Board of Supervisors in 1907 and 1908 to gain approval to construct bridges over and under public roads. Thanks to the records of the proceedings we can view the process undertaken. All documents except those noted are from the HathiTrust Digitial Collection.
Art Kleiner
December 2, 1907 Petition
The Board of Supervisors consisted of the three Town Supervisors (Oyster Bay, Hempstead and North Hempstead)
The petition included 5 Motor Parkway bridges.
E. Belcher-Hyde, 1906
Merrick Avenue Bridge
E. Belcher-Hyde, 1906
Broadway/Massapequa Bridge
Jerusalem Avenue Bridge
Old Country Road, near the Albert Burt Property. (E. Belcher-Hyde, 1906)
Round Swamp Road Bridge
Old Country Road
Community Involvment
The elimination of grade crossings was a contributing factor in getting approval.
January 15, 1908 Board of Supervisors Meeting
Pardington was on hand to discuss the petition.
Note "Westbury Pike" and the elevation of Old Country Road and Round Swamp Road.
July 27, 1908 Petition
Pardington once again submitted a petition on July 27, 1928 however, during the Board's meeting on July 29 requested it to be withdrawn, which was accepted. Possibly he felt additional clarification or details were needed. The question of speed trials on the Motor Parkway was also discussed.
August 3, 1908 Board of Supervisors Meeting
Pardington next discussed a petition with the Board of Supervisors on August 3, 1908.
"elevate or depress the said public highways"
Additional details were provided pertaining to the height of the bridges and elevation of grade levels.
Old Country Road Bridge
Merrick Avenue Bridge
14' bridge height
Jerusalem Avenue Bridge
No greater than an elevated grade of 5% on all approaches
Massapequa Bridge
Round Swamp Road Bridge
Approval Given with Conditions
The Board unanimously approved the petition with the following conditions:
1. construction must adhere to the statutes presented
2. written acceptance must be made
3. Nassau County assumes no responsibilities
4. Surety company bond for $25,000 to be delivered to Nassau County
5. Repairs must be made in a reasonable time
6. A notice addressed to the Long Island Motor Parkway, Inc. pertaining to any matter or thing is deemed a good and sufficient notice (interestingly it didn't require it to be received or acknowledged)
7. Powers and privelages conform to the statutes now in force and that hereafter be in force
8. Permit shall be in effect for 50 years from its acceptance
If the public roads of which the bridges cross need changes or improvements, the Motor Parkway will at its own expense alter the construction of the over or under grade crossings.
The Board unanamously approved the petition, as well as one calling for speed trials on the Motor Parkway.
Citizen Objection
Based on a complaint by residents of Farmingdale, the Board on October 19, 1908 forwarded an order to the Long Island Motor Parkway to modify the construction of the bridge, already in progress. The order referenced the conditions set forth in the Board's August 3 approval.
Comments
From what I gathered here, Round Swamp Rd was originally planned as a Highway Bridge ( over the LIMP ) right up until the Citizens Objection 10/19/1908 ( 5 days before the VCR ). Fairly sure the road from Farmingdale to Hicksville is Round Swamp Rd. I then find it hard to understand that bridge work at this location would be undertaken with the race coming up ( Round Swamp Rd was part of the course ). There was work being done here, sounds like the objection put a halt to it. The Parkway Type Bridge here was built in 1910.
Westbury Pike - Merrick Ave?
Art, Brian, Re: Citizen Objection. Their protests actually had to do with 2 bridges, the one over Round Swamp Rd. and the one over Clairmont Ave. The issue was the clearance was to be only 12 feet, which was the Parkway’s standard. The complaint basically came from those involved with the heavily concentrated pickle works, brick manufacturers and also farmers in the area. Very concerned were the pickle processing plant at the south east corner of Clairmont Ave and today’s Bethpage Sweet Hollow Rd. On the south west corner there was a brick kiln plant. Both depended heavily on those two roads for cucumbers and clay delivery’s and the 12 foot bridge clearances would create problems in that regard. In the end the clearance’s were raised to 14 feet at Clairmont and 17 feet at Round Swamp. Brian, the Parkway never considered going under Round Swamp Rd because of the higher elevation on the east side of that road.
Art, Wonderful details about the Parkway’s bridge building petition, I believe it was their first of several. I’m curious though why the petition included the Old Country Rd. bridge and not the Clinton Rd. bridge. The only reason I can come with is that around the same time there discussions about a new alignment for Clinton Rd. I think it is pretty obvious why the Parkway petitioned for the other four bridges at that time, they all are over county roads on the Parkway portion of the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup race circuit.
Thanks, Al. Makes absolute sense.