Squibb Park Bridge Needs Repairs – Will Re-Open In 2-3 Weeks

Many BHB readers have asked about Squibb Park Bridge, which has been closed – ostensibly due to the construction of the Pierhouse – for the last few weeks. Now comes word from Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Belinda Cape that there’s another issue as well:

Warping of the bridge is expected from time to time due to use and temp fluctuations and requires the re-adjustment of cable tensions. During the most recent adjustments last month, our bridge engineers registered greater movement than usual at one of the spans. The bridge was closed in order to conduct more intensive monitoring, as well as find the cause for this movement.

We expect necessary adjustments to be made and the bridge to reopen in the next 2-3 weeks.

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  • marshasrimler

    and who pays for this…us or the developers?

  • Hicksup

    “Warping of the bridge is expected…” Right.

  • BrooklynBugle

    Marsha –
    Your passion for the library is admirable. However, continued thread jacking will result in bannation.

  • marshasrimler

    these are all connected issues having to do with the use of city funds.. i think you need to look at the big picture

  • Monty

    Why is Squibb Park closed? It was open before the bridge was ready. And it’s administered by DPR, not the BBPC.

  • Heightsman

    I hate to gloat (not really) but I called it. When I was walking over the bridge most recently I said to myself there is no way this visible “twisting” was normal. The next day it was closed. They said construction…..now the real story comes out. Here’s my further prediction: The bridge is great for some nice park in a rural American town but in NYC it won’t hold up over time. I am willing to bet that it will need more than normal maintenance over the course of its lifetime here in BH. That thing gets heavy usage every day it’s open. Just sayin…..

  • petercow

    Was the bridge designed by Leon Moisseiff?

  • Andrew Porter

    Poor Marsha Rimler; she sings out with gusto…

  • Andrew Porter

    Galloping Gertie?

  • Eddyde

    I thought the same thing last time I walked over it,
    However, being that I have an engineering background, I realize that it is normal for such a structure to need adjusting from time to time, especially in its early years.

  • marshasrimler

    i am not poor but thanks

  • Eddyde

    Yes, and If you look at the very big picture, you will realize none of it matters.

  • marshasrimler

    again.. who pays

  • marshasrimler

    the law of unintended consequences.. in action

  • marshasrimler

    it matters to me

  • Heightsman

    Also, I do not understand why the kids from PS 8 can’t go to Squibb Park for recess. It’s the bridge not the park that’s the issue. Don’t tell me you can’t block the bridge entrance…

  • Eddyde

    I can’t recall if there is a separate gate for the bridge. I suppose, they simply close the entrance at street level to prevent people from walking all the way down the ramp only to find the bridge closed, since no one reads signs, anymore.

  • Eddyde

    It wouldn’t if you could see the very big picture.

  • marshasrimler

    have a good evening. i gotta go

  • TeddyNYC

    I agree. I bet next year it will close again for a few weeks or longer. They should have built a more robust span that can deal with the heavy usage you’re now getting with the phenomenal popularity of BBP.

  • gatornyc

    My educated guess is that the excessive warping is due to the driving of piles for the adjacent Pierhouse construction. If that is the case, than Toll Bros. should pay for the resulting damage.

  • marshasrimler

    good point

  • petercow

    Correct, sir, and also the designer of another clunker – the Manhattan Bridge.

  • anon

    I blame Gov Christie for the closure. Let the Squibbgate investigations begin.

  • Andrew Porter

    Okay, I guess you didn’t get the reference to the song “Johnny One Note”…

  • cindy s

    What’s so amazing is the amount
    of money which could…and should
    Have gone many, many worthy
    Public causes. What about better
    Funding of public safety…there
    Has to be dozens of off-the-shelf
    Bridge designs which are 100%
    Trouble free-well proven-good
    Looking designs. But in the
    “Urban planning” NGO world
    That’s NEVER going to happen

  • David on Middagh
  • cindy s

    Yes, there already designed systems
    Which are ridiculous or inappropriate
    But I bet I could find a really good
    Very affordable design in a few hours
    On line. Point is that the shapers
    Of policy have become so insulated
    From any form of public will, that
    Things are on many levels in poor
    Control. Two of my friends work in
    Law firms working on land use
    Policy so…

  • Frisk

    “Ostensibly”? Can you fill us in on what the actual reason you’re implying is, and your reporting that led you to this conclusion?

  • ColumbiaHeightster

    Amazing (or incredibly annoying) how everything comes back to the library with you. Thanks for diverting yet another topic which people care about, back to the library. Enough already.