Mystery Friday Foto #22 Solved; Blueprints to Remove the East Williston Motor Parkway Railroad Bridge
Pat Babor challenged you to identify the blueprints of the removal of the East Williston Motor Parkway RR bridge.
Identify;
- What do the plans depict?
This page is from a set of plans to remove the Mineola and East Williston Motor Parkway Railroad bridges over the LIRR tracks.
- The structure in the plans
Of the two bridges from the plans, the East Williston Bridge is shown in this mystery photo.
- Year of the plans
Dates on the title page for the plans are February 5, 1982.
- Reason for the plans
By the early 80's, it was becoming apparent that the 2 R.R. bridges were a nuisance and a safety hazard to passing trains so the decision was made to remove them.
Comments (7)
Congrats to Joseph Oesterle, Steve Lucas, Al Velocci, Herbert Ketcham, Frank Femenias and Ernie M for identifying the LIMP RR bridge removal
Greg O.
This page of the East Williston Railroad bridge removal was part of a set of plans that were detailed in a post from April 1, 2023.
Close ups
Ron Ridolph documented the bridge coming down in 1983, showing the crane right where it needed to be as per plans.
Comments
Sure looks like one of our LIRR bridges over the LIMP. I say 1908. Albertson or Mineola.
That blueprint looks like the plans for how to demolish the LIMP bridge over the LIRR Oyster Bay branch in Williston Park / East Williston. Since the bridge came down in 1983, I’m guessing the plans were drawn up in 1982. The plans show the rigging / demo team how to prepare for and remove the bridge.
Direction for making a bridge.
The plans depict the removal of the two Long Island Motor Parkway bridges over the Long Island Railroad. One was from the Oyster Bay line at the Williston Park/East Wiliston boundary and the other over the main line at Carle Place/Mineola.
Removal of the Motor Parkway bridge spanning the LIRR tracks in Westbury.
Nice find Greg! Official documentation for dismantling Motor Parkway’s Oyster Bay-LIRR bridge in Williston Park. The bridge was taken down in 1983, dating the document. Ron Ridolph photos below capturing the bridge and removal preparations
What do the plans depict?
The lift plan to remove the girder supports for a railroad overpass bridge.
This is removal as the ELEVATION view notes where to cut the girder, and
the SECTION A-A notes “MAIN GIRDER REMOVAL ONLY”.
The structure in the plans
Railroad overpass. Dual rail tracks are depicted in the drawing.
There were three railroad overpasses: Bethpage, Mineola, and Williston.
Bethpage also had a road overpass, while the other two were simple
similar double track lines. Williston over the Oyster Bay branch seems
to be at the slight angle shown in the plans. Additionally, this overpass
has a matching number of supports on the main girder.
Year of the plans
The bridge was deconstructed in 1983 so this must be slightly earlier.
Reason for the plans
Plan your work, work your plan. This shows many details to have a safe
lift, specifying lift points, capacity, swing angles, even detailing load
spreading mats for the cranes and how to build them so they do not
foul the passing trains.
Since 1978 finding the money to demolish this bridge was a concern. Finally in 1982 Nassau County received an award of $480,000 from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation “in connection with a project titled “REMOVAL OF MOTOR PARKWAY BRIDGES”. The East Williston bridge project most probably was included in this award. Article is from Newsday of July 22, 1982.
This was very interesting. So since I spent my childhood riding over that bridge going to my Uncle’s house in Mineola. If anyone can tell me if a memory is correct. I think when we passed the toll house was it painted yellow? My 78 year old brain seems to remember it was. Anyone know? Time frame was 50’s. Thanks, Bob Andreocci