Mystery Foto #34 Solved: The Robert Moses’ New Hyde Park Road Motor Parkway Bridge over Northern State Parkway
Al Velocci challenged you to identify this Motor Parkway Bridge.
Answers to the Mystery Foto questions:
Identify;
- The bridge and location. Provide a rationale
The New Hyde Park Road Motor Parkway Bridge over Northern State Parkway. Same design as its sister bridges over Wantagh State Parkway and the Lakeville Avenue Motor Parkway Bridge which was parallel to the Lakeville Avenue Bridge.
- Approximate date(s)
1930s based on the automobiles and condition of the bridge
- When was it built and by whom?
1931 with the construction of the Northern State Parkway by New York State approved by Robert Moses.
- Year that the bridge was torn down
1967-1968
Comments (6)
Congrats to Al Prete, Joseph Oesterle, Steve Lucas, and Art Kleiner and David Miller for correctly identifying the New Hyde Park Road Bridge.
Kudos to Art Kleiner for posting jpegs.
Enjoy,
Greg O. & Howard Kroplick
The bridge from different views
Newsday 1954
1955 Aerial
The Bridge Being Taken Down (1967-1968)
Current view of the LIMP Right-Of-Way
Comments
Crossing Northern State west of Lakeville Road
It looks like the eastern bridge of the Motor Parkway over the Northern State Parkway in New Hyde Park. Rationale: The design of the bridge, which looks like other bridges in the Long Island parkway system, and other photos on this site. Built by the state in 1931 with the construction of the NSP. Torn down in 1967. Date: Various dates in the early ‘30s; pictures taken during all seasons.
LIMP over NSP just west of New Hyde Park Road. I would say all pictures face west. As the right side of the picture is on the downward slope. The way I would envision it. These pictures are a wonderful find. The cars look old enough for me to think this is about 1930. The snowy picture looks like the cameraman was perhaps on the NHP Road Bridge over the NSP. Bridge built by R Moses. Best of my knowledge torn down in 1969 with the widening of the NSP.
Judging by the style of the bridge, it is one of three bridges built by Robert Moses to allow the LIMP to go over his NYS parkways. BUT, which one? Can’t be over Wantagh Parkway: too many trees. Can’t be just west of Lakeville Road: where’s Lakeville Road? Therefore, it must be a short distance east of Lakeville Road in North Hills / North New Hyde Park, having been built during the 1931 construction of the Northern State Parkway. Based on the cars in the photos, I’m guessing the first three photos date from around 1933 while the last photo could be about 1940. The bridge was taken down during the major widening of the NSP, 1967-1968.
How about 1 of the 2 bridges bringing the Motor Parkway over the Northern State Parkway. I’m guessing this is the one nearest New Hyde Park Rd. based on the landscape and curve of the road and telephone pole. And I don’t see (however, I may be missing it) the Lakeville Rd. bridge over the NSP which would be very close.
Mid-1930s based on car designs and the bridge looking in good shape.
Bridge built in early 1930s (1931) by Robert Moses during the construction of the Northern State Parkway. Articles from The Nassau Daily Review of Dec. 8, 1931.
Taken down in mid-late 1960s as part of widening of the Northern State Parkway. Article from Newsday, April 5, 1967.
Current view and a view during the widening of the NSP.
Delayed my post because I’m second guessing that we would cover the same bridge 2 weeks in a row but I’ll just say that this is “eastern” Motor Parkway bridge over the Northern State Parkway. Built by NY state “Robert Moses” in 1931. This bridge is east of the LIMP crossing the Northern state (near Lakeville rd). The trees and curve in the road just doesn’t seem to match the crossing near Lakeville rd as much as it does at the Northern state crossing under the eastern overpass. The bridge was taken down in 1967.
Amazing jpegs Art, thank you for posting! The history is becoming even clearer now
Some 20 years ago myself and Danny Demasi discovered a small remaining section of the bridge on the northside of the eastbound New Hyde Park Rd. exit of the Northern State Parkway some 200 feet west of New Hyde Park Rd. Partially covered by leaves and other debris at the time, we cleared the area, (forgot to bring a camera ) , probably completely covered now.
The couple/duo who toured the LIMP from 1958 thru 1967 have great photos of this area. Blog is 12/2020, almost 3 years ago. So excellent that they were LIMP explorers, more to witness back then.
Amazing photo Al, thank you for posting this rare view of the bridge over NSP! I’ve finally seen what the scene looked like in action before my time!
The first 3 photos of NSP most likely taken in 1931 as the cars shown were no later than that date. The last photo taken in the snow about late 1930s has cars appears to be about mid or late 30s.
This story has now officially inspired me to fantasize about a future LIMP restoration project in New Hyde Park, albeit as a bike path.
Art, I believe the Moses bridge over NSP was once located above the eastbound lanes before expansion began.
Makes sense, Frank. Thanks.
Actually the bridge in The mystery photo shows the bridge over both directions. Or am I seeing it wrong?